BREAKING: Ibadan Residents Storm Major Streets, Launch ‘No Meter, No Payment’ Campaign [PHOTOS]
Hundreds of people from Apete, Awotan, Araromi, Jeje, and Arola in the Ido Local Government Area, as well as Ajibode, Masoke, and Laniba in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, have taken to the streets to launch a “no meter, no payment” campaign.
The demonstration has been deemed open at the Awotan crossroads, according to our journalist who is watching the situation.
Residents stated that unless they are metered, they will not pay money to any official of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
They maintained that any official from the electrical distribution company who visits their homes without being provided prepaid meters will be refused entry.
They promised not to pay their monthly electricity bills unless prepaid meters were provided.
Officials from the electrical distribution company were instructed not to visit their homes unless they had prepaid meters.
Residents demanded that PHCN meters be calibrated, that additional feeders be installed, that more transformers be installed in the communities, that all unmetered residences be metering, and that the absurd bills be stopped.
Residents insisted that if they didn’t accomplish all of these things, no power distribution company officials would be able to collect money from them or cut their wires.
During the campaign, residents carefully put their banners to raise awareness among the general public.
Engineer Rasak Fabayo, Chairman of the Ajibode, Apete, Awotan, Araromi, Akufo and Environs Community Development Association, said during the launch of the campaign that the communities were paying for services they were not using.
Fabayo said, “We are here to launch a ‘no meter no payment’ campaign. We are paying for what we are not using.
“On behalf of residents of Apete, Awotan, Araromi Akufo, Laniba, Ajibode, we are launching this campaign, if any IBEDC official comes to your house, and they demand money, tell them that no meter is no payment.”
Our correspondent reports that the residents are currently taking their campaign to Apete garage, Arola, Ajibode junction and other areas in the two local government areas.
