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The Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA) has called on the Minister of Power to urgently intervene in the lingering electricity crisis crippling Old and New Bodija, Basorun, Iwo Road, Oje, Mokola, and adjoining areas of Ibadan. Addressing journalists in Ibadan on Thursday, the President of the association, Pastor Muyiwa Bamgbose, expressed deep frustration over what he described as years of neglect and inefficiency by power authorities, urging the Federal Government to prioritise the immediate installation of the new 100MVA transformer already delivered to the community by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). He explained that Bodija, established in 1959 by the then Western Nigeria Housing Corporation under Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s administration, was once a model of urban planning and organised living. He, however, said the estate and surrounding areas now suffer from an acute electricity shortage that has disrupted social life and crippled local businesses. “For over five years, our community has endured erratic and unreliable power supply, with blackouts sometimes lasting for weeks.” “We are paying for services we are not getting, and the situation has become unbearable for residents and business owners alike,” Pastor Bamgbose lamented. Although Bodija was initially classified under Band A, which guarantees a minimum of 20 hours of daily electricity supply, residents said they have never enjoyed such stability despite paying higher tariffs. Following the Federal Government’s tariff review in April 2024, which raised Band A rates to N225 per kWh, the community was later downgraded to Band B, which promised 16 hours of supply per day — a target that, according to BERA, has also not been met. Currently, Bodija and surrounding districts depend on a 40MVA transformer managed by TCN, which has been described as grossly overloaded and inadequate for the growing energy demands of the area. Meanwhile, a source within the power sector confirmed that a 100MVA transformer has already been delivered to the site, awaiting installation. “Once operational, it is expected to significantly improve supply and potentially restore Bodija and its environs to Band A status, ensuring up to 20 hours of electricity daily,” said the source. Pastor Bamgbose, therefore, appealed to the Minister of Power and the Federal Government to expedite the installation process before the end of December 2025, stressing that the move would transform the lives of thousands of residents and revive local economic activity. “This single intervention will not only restore reliable electricity but will also reaffirm the government’s commitment to equitable power distribution and sustainable community development,” he added. The association maintained that the restoration of a steady power supply would help reclaim Bodija’s historic status as Nigeria’s first planned residential estate and a symbol of orderly urban living that should not be left in darkness. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
