The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has announced plans to strengthen electricity supply across Ogun State, promising fresh investments, improved infrastructure and faster repairs of faulty equipment.
The company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Deolu Ijose, disclosed this on Tuesday during meetings with major customers in Sagamu and Ota, where he addressed complaints about unstable electricity, metering problems and slow responses to faults.
Ijose said the new management was determined to improve service delivery and make customer concerns a major factor in its investment decisions.
He said the company was engaging directly with businesses to understand their electricity needs and identify areas requiring urgent attention.
“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.
“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 attributed some of the company’s longstanding challenges to years of inadequate investment during its period under the management of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria.
He explained that a new core investor had taken over, with changes to the company’s board effective from February 11 and the new management beginning work in April.
According to him, the change in ownership is expected to provide the financial backing needed to upgrade facilities and improve electricity distribution.
Ijose said the company was now focusing on identifying the locations where additional investment would have the greatest impact, particularly commercial and industrial centres that depend heavily on electricity.
“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.
He noted that unreliable power supply remained a major concern for manufacturers, explaining that unexpected outages could interrupt production and expose machinery to operational risks.
Drawing on his experience running a manufacturing plant, Ijose said he understood the financial and operational difficulties caused by inconsistent electricity.
“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.
As part of efforts to improve supply, the company has entered into an agreement to obtain additional electricity directly from a power generation company.
The arrangement is expected to provide an initial 125 megawatts to support important business and industrial areas within IBEDC’s coverage.
The additional electricity is intended to supplement supply from the national grid. However, Ijose acknowledged that the company must also strengthen its distribution network to ensure the extra power reaches customers effectively.
He added that IBEDC was working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria and other industry stakeholders on measures to improve electricity delivery, including network projects receiving support from the World Bank.
Ijose explained that improved generation alone would not guarantee better supply unless transmission facilities could move the electricity to distribution companies and their customers.
“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. We are engaging with TCN and other stakeholders to ensure that adequate power reaches the areas where it is most needed,” he said.
The managing director also pledged to improve compliance with electricity supply standards, particularly for Band A customers who are entitled to a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily.
He said IBEDC was examining its supply records to determine whether eligible customers were receiving the required hours and establish the causes of any deficiencies.
“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,” he said.
Beyond electricity availability, Ijose promised improvements in meter deployment, customer support and the speed at which technical faults were resolved.
He urged customers to report their experiences and challenges, saying their contributions would help the company set priorities and develop more effective responses.
The IBEDC chief expressed hope that the management changes would mark a turning point for the company, with better electricity supply helping businesses expand, employment opportunities grow and economic activities improve.
“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.
Speaking at the meeting, agro-allied industrialist Goke Adeyemi called on IBEDC to act quickly to ease the electricity difficulties confronting businesses and households in Ogun State.
He urged the company to deploy its available resources towards addressing erratic supply, which he said was making conditions increasingly difficult for business operators and residents.