IBEDC has promised improved power supply to Ogun customers, with increased investment, additional electricity and faster resolution of faults

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, has assured customers in Ogun State of improved electricity supply, increased investment in infrastructure and faster resolution of operational challenges.

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The company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Deolu Ijose, gave the assurance on Tuesday during an engagement with key customers in the Ogun Region held in Sagamu and Ota.

Ijose acknowledged persistent complaints from customers over inadequate power supply, frequent interruptions, metering challenges and delays in resolving faults.

He said the company’s new investors and management were committed to addressing challenges that had affected its operations in recent years.

According to him, customer feedback would also play a major role in determining where the company directs its investments.

“The engagement is organised to enable the company to listen to our valued customers and work collaboratively with them towards improving electricity supply and supporting business growth,” Ijose said.

“The essence of this gathering is to meet with you, listen to you and not assume that we know it all from sitting in our offices. We want to understand the issues and problems you face and see how we can resolve them as quickly as possible.”

The IBEDC chief executive explained that the company had experienced a prolonged period of limited investment while under the management of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON.

He said the situation affected the pace of infrastructure development and operational improvements.

Ijose disclosed that changes to the company’s board took effect on February 11 following the entry of a new core investor, while the new management resumed in April.

He said the new ownership structure was expected to strengthen IBEDC’s investment capacity and provide the resources needed to tackle longstanding operational challenges.

“The issue is no longer whether funds are available for investment, but where we should deploy those funds. Our customers, particularly those contributing to economic activities, are a priority in determining where interventions are most urgently needed,” he said.

Ijose stressed that reliable electricity was critical to the survival of businesses, particularly manufacturing companies whose operations depend on stable power to run machinery and protect equipment.

He said IBEDC understood the financial losses businesses could suffer whenever electricity supply was interrupted.

“I know what it means when power supply is interrupted and machines go off. I have also run a manufacturing plant, so I understand the impact of unreliable electricity on businesses. I am not here as someone who does not understand your challenges,” he said.

Ijose also disclosed that IBEDC had signed an agreement to procure additional electricity directly from a generation company.

He said an initial supply of about 125 megawatts was expected to support key business and industrial corridors within the company’s franchise area.

The initiative, according to him, would complement electricity supplied through the national grid and help reduce pressure on available power.

However, he acknowledged that IBEDC would also need to upgrade its distribution infrastructure to effectively deliver the additional electricity to customers.

The company is also working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, and other stakeholders on initiatives aimed at improving electricity delivery.

Ijose said network intervention projects were being pursued with support from the World Bank.

He explained that electricity supply depended on the performance of the entire power value chain, including generation, transmission and distribution.

“We cannot do it alone. Even when electricity is generated, the transmission system must be able to deliver it to us before we can distribute it to our customers,” he said.

“We are engaging with TCN and other stakeholders to ensure that adequate power reaches the areas where it is most needed.”

On service delivery, Ijose pledged that IBEDC would work towards meeting its service-level commitments, including the minimum daily electricity supply stipulated for Band A customers.

He said the company was reviewing its performance to establish whether eligible customers were receiving the promised minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily.

The review, he added, would also help identify the causes of any shortfalls.

“If I promise you a minimum of 20 hours, I must deliver it. It is not about compensation; what we want is for electricity to be available whenever you need it, in the right quality and at the right place,” Ijose said.

He further acknowledged concerns over customer service, meter deployment and delayed fault resolution.

The IBEDC boss promised that the company would improve its handling of complaints and ensure customers received more timely responses.

He appealed to customers to continue providing feedback on their experiences, saying such information would help the company identify priority areas and develop practical solutions.

Ijose described the changes in IBEDC’s ownership and management as an opportunity for a fresh start, noting that improved electricity supply could support businesses, employment and wider economic development.

“We want to know you better, listen to your pain points and combine your feedback with what we already know. Once we collaborate, your businesses will flourish more than before, Nigeria will prosper, and employment and economic growth will improve,” he said.

An agro-allied industrialist, Alhaji Goke Adeyemi, who also spoke at the engagement, urged IBEDC management to expedite action and use available resources to address erratic electricity supply.

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Adeyemi said poor power supply was making business operations increasingly difficult for entrepreneurs and residents across Ogun State.