UPDATE - Osogbo residents lament two-week blackout

 

Residents of Baruwa Estate, Ogo-Oluwa Area, Osogbo, Osun State, have

lamented the blackout they have been experiencing since the transformer supplying electricity to them malfunctioned more than two weeks ago.

Residents who spoke with DAILY POST disclosed that the transformer situated at Baruwa street caught fire on the fateful day which resulted in low voltage and subsequently, disruption of electricity supply while some said the problem was as a result of a vital component inside the transformer that was stolen.

They lamented that the blackout has affected them in several ways and if not for the rainy season things would have gone from bad to worse.

A resident, Adekola Adetayo who spoke with DAILY POST stated that the only grace he enjoys is that his business office is located in another part of Baruwa Estate that was not affected and because of the situation, he spends most of his time in the shop where he ensures that anything that has to do with electricity is carried out while in his shop.

A school proprietress, Mrs. Pauline Bamidele, lamented that she has to use a generator to run her school adding that she had to spend money that she did not budget on fuel it is on from morning till evening for school and night till the next morning since she lives in the school premises.

She lamented that all the perishable food items in her freezer have been destroyed because there is no constant supply of electricity.

Residents, who also confided in our reporter, revealed that since the problem with the transformer started, delegates from the community development association had gone to the office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) at different times to make a case and solicit assistance all to no avail.

A hairdresser, Gloria Ayodele, disclosed that she heard that the missing component is worth millions of Naira which the community cannot afford at this time.

She explained that she has had to resort to using a generator for her business and it was beginning to eat deep into her finances.

Meanwhile efforts to get the spokesperson of the IBEDC in Osogbo by DAILY POST has been unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report but an IBEDC marketer, who did not want his name mentioned, stated that their technicians were aware of the situation and will be in the community either today or tomorrow to carry out assessment and commence repair and replacement of the damaged component.