Masquerades lead youths protest against ‘outrageous’ electricity charges by IBEDC in Kwara, reject migration to Band A
Following an incessant electricity tariff meted with Omu-Aran community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, two masquerades led angry youths in their numbers on Friday April 11, 2025 to voiced their grievances over “outrageous” electricity bills.
It was gathered that the protesters also rejected the community’s sudden migration from BandC to Band A in the billing tariff by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
The protesters were said to have converged on Bareke roundabout, chanting war songs and carrying placards with different inscriptions.
In a video posted on X, the protesters were seen with placards that read, “Omu-Aran says no to Band A,” “Bring us back to Band C,” “Revert Omu-Aran to Band C,” and “Omu-Aran youths have spoken loudly.”
The youths said the shift in billing classification was responsible for the sharp increase in electricity charges for March 2025.
It would be recalled that the federal government had last year April, approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification, while other bands were unchanged.
Under the current structure, Band A customers are entitled to a minimum of 20 hours per day, Band B gets a minimum of 16 hours of power supply, and Band C gets 12 hours.
While category D receives a minimum of eight hours, Band E gets four hours of electricity per day.
Following the price review, Band A customers began paying N209 per kilowatt-hour, while Band B — with three to four hours difference in electricity supply — pays N63 per kilowatt-hour.
Source: TheCable
