Angry gods: Masquerades Lead Protest Over Electricity Tariff Hike in Kwara

In a dramatic and peaceful demonstration, youths in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, took to the streets on Friday to protest what they described as outrageous electricity bills following the sudden reclassification of their area from Band C to Band A. The protest, unusually led by two masquerades, drew widespread attention as participants marched through major parts of the town.

The demonstrators gathered at Bareke Roundabout carrying placards with bold messages like “Omu-Aran Says No to Band A,” “Bring Back Band C,” and “Omu-Aran Youths Have Spoken Loudly,” as they chanted and sang war songs in unison. Their grievances centered on a sharp spike in electricity bills for March 2025, with charges ranging between N41,000 and N47,000—up from the previous N10,000 to N15,000 range.

Residents blamed the price hike on the unannounced shift from Band C to Band A billing, which they argued was unjustified given the community’s ongoing electricity supply challenges. Protesters highlighted unresolved infrastructure issues, including faulty transformers, that have contributed to inconsistent power delivery.

The peaceful march extended to critical points in the town such as Olomu Market, Latinwo Market Area, the Olomu Palace, and the district office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) located within the Omu-Aran City Complex. Demonstrators also blocked key highways, including the Omu-Aran-Kabba and Omu-Aran-Otun-Ekiti roads, causing significant traffic disruptions.

Protesters insisted they would not back down until their demands are met. These include the reversal to Band C billing, improved electricity supply, replacement of faulty equipment, and the immediate end to overdraft purchases on prepaid meters. They also called for an independent review of IBEDC’s service delivery in the town and the cessation of the practice where consumers are forced to fund repairs to damaged electrical infrastructure.

Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, received the protesters at his palace and urged them to remain calm, assuring them that community leaders were already in discussions with IBEDC officials to find a solution.

In response, IBEDC’s Omu-Aran Business Manager, Mr. A.O. Badmus, declined to comment, directing inquiries to the Kwara State Communication Officer, Mr. Gbenga Ajiboye. Ajiboye stated that the classification of electricity bands is a regulatory matter handled solely by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and not within the control of IBEDC.

He added that Omu-Aran’s inclusion in Band A is based on NERC’s regulation for areas receiving 20 hours of electricity supply daily. However, he noted that high-level discussions were underway to address the concerns raised by the community.