The people of 21 communities in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun state have taken to the streets to demand the restoration of power which has been without for over three years. The communities include:
- Igbogila
- Ishaga
- Joga-Orile
- Imasayi
- Ijoun
- Igan-Alade
- Egua
- Tata
- And others
Led by the Jagumolu, Chief Anisere Adejare, the protesters expressed frustration over the persistent blackout which they say has paralyzed local businesses and caused immense hardship for residents. The protesters who carried placards, with different inscriptions and chanting slogans, and songs demanded the restoration of power. Speaking with newsmen, Adejare said the protest was necessary to draw the attention of government, and relevant authorities and corporate stakeholders to the suffering of the people. “We cannot remain silent while our children sleep in darkness and our women struggle to run their businesses. This is not just about power; it’s about justice and leadership”, he said.
The Suspected Cause of the Power Outage
The suspected cause of the power outage stems from the activities of factories owned by a cement factory, whose operations have allegedly disrupted the communities electricity supply.
| Factories owned by cement factory | Disrupted electricity supply |
| Two-year power blackout in twenty-one towns | Caused immense hardship for residents |
Reacting to the protest, the management of Cement factory reiterated its decision to support IBEDC in putting an end to the two-year power blackout in twenty-one towns, saying that it will provide most of the materials needed to restore the electricity. Speaking on behalf of the Cement manufacturing company, Mr Olayiwola Abiodun Wakeel, the Social Performance Head, said the materials will be delivered on or before May 30, 2025.
Response from Cement Factory Management
Wakeel assured the people who have been in the blackout for more than two years that the company has not slept over its January 2025 promise to offer the needed support, but waiting on the contracted vendors to deliver the materials.
“We have not slept over our promise to support IBEDC in putting an end to the two-year power blackout in twenty-one towns. We will deliver the materials on or before May 30, 2025.”
The people of Yewa North have been facing a power outage for over three years, which has caused immense hardship for residents and paralyzed local businesses. The situation has also brought out the issue of injustice and poor leadership, which the protesters are demanding to be addressed.
Impacts of Power Outage on Residents
The power outage has had a significant impact on the daily lives of residents.
- Children sleep in darkness
- Women struggle to run their businesses
- Local businesses are paralyzed
- Residents face immense hardship
The protesters demand that the government and corporate stakeholders take immediate action to restore the power and address the issues of injustice and poor leadership. The future of the people of Yewa North depends on the swift resolution of this issue.
Call to Action
The protesters are calling on the government and corporate stakeholders to take immediate action to restore the power and address the issues of injustice and poor leadership. It is time for the government to take responsibility for the suffering of the people.
The people of Yewa North will continue to fight for their rights until the power is restored and the issues of injustice and poor leadership are addressed.