Group threatens Nationwide Community Campaign against IKEDC, IBEDC

The Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has revealed that it would join a nationwide community campaign against some electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in the country over unwholesome practices.

The group particularly pointed at the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) as culprits of illegal disconnection, irregular power supply, estimated billing and extortion of consumers in many areas, especially Otemuyi-Adiyan area of Lagos state.

According to the human rights group, the nationwide campaign which will kick off at Otemuyi-Adiyan Zone aims to put an end to the epileptic power supply and demand free prepaid meters.

A statement signed by the CHRSJ’s Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman on Monday further disclosed that the nationwide campaign might lead to “picketing” of the IKEDC office in Otemuyi-Adiyan Zone.

Mr Sulaiman also said that the campaign rally is a call to sensitise citizens of the area on their right to regular electricity while warning the authority of the IKEDC to caution their officials, identified as Pat Mbata, who had to threaten to disconnect power from the area because of the residents’ refusal to allegedly “give her bribe after installation of Pre-paid meter in their buildings”.

He also called on the authority of the IBEDC in Iwo, Osun state to also caution their staff, especially one simply identified as Musa.

Read also: Nigeria gets $500m World Bank loan for DisCos

The statement reads in part, “It would be recalled that ‘Where’s The Light Movement‘ had commenced a nationwide Community Enlightenment Campaign for 24/7 Regular Electricity Supply in Nigeria in Alimosho Local Government of Lagos on Saturday, February 20, 2021.

“The Campaign with the theme: ‘March Against Darkness, Electricity is a Right, Not a Privilege’, is to sensitize citizens and communities to demand free prepaid meter, to reject crazy estimated billing, demand the reversal of tariff to N13.2 kwh, demand twenty-four hours regular power supply and ultimately demand a reversion to public ownership of the Power Sector under the democratic control and management of all stakeholders since the privatization has shown to be fraudulent and is worse than public ownership”.

The statement further said “The community, terrestrial and online campaign will be conducted through rallies, seminars, stakeholders interface, media, drama kit, visual and material campaigns including millions of posters, handbills, t-shirts, faze caps, wristbands and other materials”.

He also called on public-spirited individuals and organizations to “join the campaign to get Nigeria out of decades of darkness, regular power failure, crazy billing, corruption and ineptitude which got worse after the so-called privatization and unbundling of the power sector.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now