Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has summoned the management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to address the prolonged blackout affecting several towns in the state. The outage followed a rainstorm last Saturday that damaged buildings and electricity infrastructure in Osogbo and surrounding areas.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke expressed concern over the worsening power situation. He noted that businesses were suffering and residents were struggling to cope. “I have received widespread complaints from all our major towns. Businesses are grinding to a halt. We cannot continue like this. I am inviting the management of IBEDC for brainstorming to find a way out,” he said.
The governor acknowledged that the power sector is capital-intensive and a national challenge but stressed that Osun was bearing significant hardship. He called for short-term solutions in collaboration with IBEDC while outlining his administration’s medium- and long-term plans to diversify energy sources. Adeleke emphasized renewable energy as a sustainable alternative, adding that affordability would be key to its success.
He revealed that the state is working towards establishing an electricity regulatory commission to oversee power generation and distribution within Osun. According to him, this would open up the energy sector and protect the interests of IBEDC customers.
Adeleke also directed the Commissioner for Energy to convene a meeting involving IBEDC and consumer advocacy groups to address the crisis. On the rainstorm, he said the State Emergency Management Agency had begun compiling data of affected residents and urged victims to submit their details for possible support.
The storm destroyed several buildings and disrupted electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, leaving many communities without power. Adeleke’s intervention highlights the urgency of restoring electricity and finding sustainable solutions to Osun’s energy challenges.
