By, Yemi Olaitan

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has summoned the management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company over the prolonged blackout affecting major towns in the state.

The outage followed a rainstorm last Saturday that damaged buildings and electricity infrastructure across parts of Osogbo and other areas.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke said the worsening power situation was crippling businesses and affecting residents.

“I have received widespread complaints from all our major towns. Businesses are grinding to a halt. We cannot continue like this. I am inviting the management of the IBEDC for brainstorming to find a way out.

“As much as we know that the power sector is capital-intensive, and despite the fact that the matter is a national challenge, Osun is suffering a lot. We must work together with IBEDC for a short-term solution.

“As a government, the medium and long-term solution is to diversify sources of energy supply. Renewable energy is a sustainable alternative, but it must be affordable. Our government is working hard to support the renewable energy sector,” Adeleke said.

According to him, the state is working towards establishing an electricity regulatory commission to oversee power generation and distribution within Osun.

 

“This will open up the state energy sector and also protect the best interests of IBEDC customers,” he said.

The governor further directed the Commissioner for Energy to convene a meeting involving IBEDC and consumer advocacy groups to address the crisis.

On the rainstorm, Adeleke said the State Emergency Management Agency had begun compiling data of affected residents, urging victims to submit their details for possible support.

The storm, which hit Osogbo and surrounding areas, destroyed several buildings and disrupted electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, leaving many communities without power.