… IBEDC says construction of Lalupon injection substation, 33kV Feeder pending due to awaited CBN financial intervention

Oredola Adeola

Residents of Lalupon and environs in Oyo State disrupted operations at the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company’s (IBEDC) office in Alabebe, protesting the ten-year power disconnection affecting eleven communities, including Adewumi, Trailer Park, Adeleye, Erunmu, and Fatumo and others.

Our correspondent, who monitored the situation on Monday, confirmed that a large number of aggrieved protesters took to the busy Iwo-Olodo road near the IBEDC office, obstructing vehicular movement to press home their demand for reconnection.

Banners and placards held by some protesters indicated that communities such as Adewumi, Trailer Park, Adeleye, Erunmu, Fatumo, Atari, Lalupon, Ejioku, Ile-Igbon, and Iyana-Ofa have been without power for over five years, with no hope of reconnection in sight.

In response to the rising tension from the protesters, the IBEDC management promptly closed its offices to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Busolami Tunwase, IBEDC’s Lead, Media Relations, stated in a report obtained by Advisors Reports that the ongoing power supply issues in the Lalupon area and environs are due to the 33KV substation project funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of the IBEDC-PIP CBN CAPEX Projects – 2023.

She said, “The project, which includes the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of a 1 x 15MVA, 33/11kV Injection Substation in Lalupon, involves the construction of the Lalupon 33kV Feeder from the Iwo 30/40MVA, 132/33kV Transmission Station, and a proposed 33kV T-Off to serve as an in-feed to the new substation.

“Despite the contract being awarded in December 2023, the project is pending due to awaited CBN financial intervention,” Tunwase stated.

The IBEDC’s spokesperson revealed that the current supply challenges were further complicated in March 2023 when a bridge collapse in the Olodo area damaged several poles, isolating part of the feeder and affecting 32 substations, leaving several communities without power.

She identified the affected areas to include Olufon, Olukunle, Sulekokoko, Oganla, Pagun, Olubonku, Jehovah Witness, Adeleye, Erunmu, Ajiwogbo Lagbaye, Adewumi, Alugbo, Ejioku, Ilegbon, Ogunbode, Lalupon, Iyana Oga, Apatere, Sukuru, Ofa Igbo, Lagoon, Oyedeji Owobale, Ayede Alugbo, and Fatumo.

Tunwase said, “Currently, 65% of customers on the feeder are receiving supply, with 40 transformers on load shedding, assuring that efforts are underway to back-feed some of the remaining Distribution Substations (DSS) from an alternative feeder, though this will not cover all affected areas.

IBEDC has therefore pleaded for the inconvenience and assured residents of the affected areas that all efforts are being made to expedite the completion of the 33kV substation project and restore full power supply.

The DisCo further emphasized its commitment to customer service, highlighting that it has held over ten meetings with community leaders to explain the situation and reaffirm its dedication to resolving these issues and improving service delivery.