Residents and business owners across Ibadan are expressing outrage over what they describe as “crazy bills” issued by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), claiming exorbitant charges for erratic power supply.
In recent weeks, several customers have taken to social media and community radio stations to voice their frustration.
Many allege that despite receiving electricity for less than 10 hours daily, they are being slammed with monthly bills as high as ₦40,000 to ₦60,000
While some customers who are shop owner lament of receiving bill of N92000 in a month.
Speaking with Nigerian NewsDirect, Mr Akin Oyeyemi said I run business center, with just one photocopy machine, I don’t make up to 50,000 monthly, I received N91000 bill, that is outrageous, where am I expected to see that kind of money to pay.
“I don’t even have a freezer or air conditioner, and yet they brought crazy bill this month,” he said
“It’s daylight robbery. We hardly see light and they still bring outrageous bills.”
Also speaking to NewsDirect, Mr Abass Akinrogun, a landlord of two bedroom flat in Blessing estate, Esuyago area, Gasline Ijoko, Ogun State, said “I received N83400 as bill in one month.
“I worked in Lagos State, I spent only Saturday and Sunday at home with just one television, how did they arrive at that amount and if you challenge the marketer managing the area, the next bill might be higher than that” he said
Several affected areas include Sango ota, Ijoko Ogba iyo, Bodija, Apata, Dugbe, and Iwo Road, where residents insist that the estimated billing system used by IBEDC is flawed and unfair.
Business owners are also bearing the brunt. Mr. Olumide Ajayi, who runs a printing press in Dugbe, said his overhead costs have tripled in the last three months. “We’re using generators most of the time, yet IBEDC brings us bills like we’re running a factory. It’s killing small businesses.”
Efforts to get a response from IBEDC proved unsuccessful as calls and emails to their customer service department went unanswered as of press time.
However, in a previous statement, the company blamed vandalism, electricity theft, and low customer compliance with meter installations as factors affecting their billing accuracy.
Consumer rights groups have called for an urgent intervention from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), urging them to enforce widespread metering and review the current billing practices.
As public discontent grows, many residents say they are prepared to organize peaceful protests to demand transparency, fairness, and improved electricity supply in exchange for the fees they are being asked to pay.
“We’re not saying we won’t pay,” said Mr. Bamidele, a landlord in Challenge. “We just want to pay for what we use. That’s not too much to ask.”