𝐈𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐚 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬: 𝐅𝐆 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝

The Federal Government has addressed claims from the Oyo State House of Assembly regarding alleged power blackouts in parts of Ibarapa, describing the allegations as politicizing long-standing technical issues in the electricity sector.

In a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Power on Friday, the government dismissed criticisms aimed at the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, noting that electricity supply challenges in Ibarapa existed before the current administration took office.

Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations to the Minister, explained that transmission difficulties in the area stem from funding gaps and unresolved compensation issues tied to infrastructure owned by the Transmission Company of Nigeria. He urged the Oyo Assembly to approach technical matters constructively rather than politicize them.

Tunji further noted that electricity is now included on the Concurrent Legislative List, allowing states to generate, distribute, and transmit power within their jurisdictions. While several states have leveraged this to enhance local supply, Oyo State has yet to fully utilize these provisions.

The Ministry also questioned why the Assembly has not addressed the stalled Independent Power Project with Elektron Energy, which halted due to contractor non-payment despite public investment. Observers said the timing of the allegations nearly seven years into the Assembly’s tenure and under a year to the next elections appears politically motivated.

The Ministry reported that contractors are now on-site, assessing affected properties and beginning overdue compensation for landowners. Delays in funding occurred before Minister Adelabu assumed office, and all essential project equipment has already been acquired. Previously abandoned Transmission Company of Nigeria facilities are being rehabilitated, power has been restored to Ibarapa Central, and several street lighting projects have been completed to improve security and local commerce.

The Ministry clarified that last-mile distribution in Oyo State, including Ibarapa, is managed by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, which handles feeders, transformers, billing, and metering. Adelabu directed IBEDC to accelerate the distribution of free prepaid meters across its service area, emphasizing the government’s commitment to proactive engagement with electricity operators.

“Our goal is to hear directly from IBEDC, understand operational challenges, and identify ways the government can support reliable electricity delivery,” the Minister said, aligning the efforts with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda for a more dependable power sector.

Adelabu criticized IBEDC’s slow metering rollout, revealing that only 16,300 of roughly 59,000 supplied meters have been installed according to the Federal Government’s Distribution Sector Recovery Programme.

The Ministry listed ongoing and completed projects across the state, including mobile substations at Ajibode and Eleyele Sango, upgrades at Ayede Ring Road with Siemens, new substations at New Asejire and Lalupon Ejioku, a 15MW solar grid for the University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, rehabilitation of Igbo Ora and Lanlate substations, transmission line completions, rural solar mini-grids, and highway lighting along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway.

The Ministry urged the state government and Assembly to support federal initiatives, stressing that sustainable electricity improvements require collaboration across all government levels. Residents of Ibarapaland were assured that with compensation underway and equipment in place, significant improvements in power supply will soon be realized.