OGBOMOSO: Long blackout frustrating
Khalid ABRAHAM
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Most parts of Ogbomoso are plunged in total blackout presently underscoring the perennial power conundrum in Nigeria. In many parts the blackout has lasted 5 weeks. Yet, the authorities have not made any intervention to solve the problem. Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), which is directly in charge of the sector has been mute; its officials in the city have gone underground in recent times, the marketers have withdrawn their “services” for now, not going about distributing bills to direct users of energy because they know the situation is inauspicious. But they will win last because from experience they will still charge customers energy not used when they “resume work” eventually – that is when power is restored.
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But mind you they (IBEDC) are not the one who will restore the electricity, it is the hapless users who will undertake that. It is the customers who will see to the repairs of the damaged electricity infrastructures, expending much for that in terms of money. However, the moment that is accomplished, IBEDC becomes active again in their usual oppressive manner, though in limbo now.
The outage presently being experienced is caused by thunderstorms which precipitated the damages to electricity infrastructures: broken poles, cut wires, and other facilities and accessories put out of functionality. Ordinarily, IBEDC should have effected the repairs since they often claim ownership of them even though most are acquired by the citizens either collectively or individually. But it’s an odious irony; when the facilities are functional they belong to IBEDC but when malfunctioning they are customers’. Many damaged electricity facilities now IBEDC expects the customers to restore, which will come at a huge cost. IBEDC has disappeared for now, and the hapless users are in a quandary in many areas since raising the huge funds required is cumbersome in the face of the economic hardship and uncooperative residents. Thus, many communities have resigned to the fate of long power outage.
”In our community, about five concrete poles fell, aside aluminum wire, damages and other accessories,” a resident of Favour area, who gave his name simply as Adetunji informed. “I think a concrete pole is N170, 000 or more, aside transporting, how do we raise such amount?”
Another landlord in Ogbegun area, Nurudeen, also said, “It is about six weeks now we have not had electricity because of damaged poles and others. We have spent close to N200, 000. IBEDC has not shown up. Even to inspect a faulty transformer they collected money. We called the manager, no response. We have been in total darkness for about six weeks. And we are still required to spend nothing less than N300, 000, it is difficult to come by. IBEDC or whoever is responsible is really a disaster. No bill for direct users now but we know it is being piled up.”
That is the situation in many areas in Ogbomoso, with the people left to fend for themselves. People’s anger is boiling over with some youth mulling the bringing back of the #endibedc campaigns in Ogbomoso witnessed few years ago.
“It is appaling, the people purchased all facilities to link their residences and business outlets to the national grid. You stay away at such time then you come around to claim ownership of the facilities and start to bill them. But when such facilities get damaged you stay away and even your staff charge money to fix the faults after users contribute. But after that you revert to taking ownership again, taking possession of what you don’t maintain and start raking money. When theft occurs in the electricity facilities it is the community that funds the replacement, yet it’s your asset, which you don’t protect, it doesn’t make sense,” another distraught customer, Dele Adeleke, retorted.
The matter of the blackout which is becoming a way of life is getting out of hand. Businesses are in comatose and collapsing, hunger has multiplied just because some people will not undertake what they are supposed to do, only driven by how to rip the citizens.
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A solution should be found by the owners of electricity facilities even if they have to collaborate with the users. This is as customers are encouraged to consider the solar alternative. Government can assist in this direction.