Drama As Masquerades Lead Protest Against High Electricity Bills

Masquerades and youths in Omu-Aran took to the streets to protest high electricity bills and a sudden change in billing category.

A protest broke out on Friday in Omu-Aran, a town in Kwara State, due to a sudden increase in electricity bills.

The community’s electricity billing classification had been changed from Band C to Band A, which caused frustration among residents. Two masquerades and several youth groups led the demonstration, gathering at the Bareke Roundabout with placards and chants.

Some of the signs they carried read: “Omu-Aran Says No to Band A,” “Bring Us Back to Band C,” and “Omu-Aran Youths Have Spoken Loudly.” According to the protesters, their electricity bills for March 2025 had increased sharply—rising from about ₦10,000–₦15,000 to ₦41,000–₦47,000.

One of the protesters explained, “We are protesting because of the outrageous bills we received for March 2025 after the sudden change in our billing regime. We had issues with electricity supply even before this change, and now it has worsened.”

The protesters also said they had been dealing with poor electricity service even before the billing change, and this new situation only made things more difficult. When security forces tried to escort the protest, the demonstrators refused, insisting on expressing their grievances independently.

The protest extended through several areas of the town, including Olomu Market, Latinwo Market Area, Olomu Palace, and the local IBEDC office. The demonstrators blocked major roads like the Omu-Aran-Kabba and Omu-Aran-Otun-Ekiti highways, causing traffic delays that lasted for hours.

The protesters said they would not stop until their demands are met. These demands include fixing faulty transformers, going back to Band C billing, and improving electricity supply.

A statement from the President of the Omu-Aran Development Association listed the group’s requests: “Some of our demands include the replacement of faulty transformers, which have caused inconsistent electricity supply in key areas of the community, the reversion of the billing system from Band A to Band C, and a suspension of Band A billing. We also demand a review of current charges to reflect the old billing rates.”

They also asked for an independent review of the electricity company’s services and called for an end to extra costs like overdraft purchases on prepaid meters and forcing residents to buy materials for repairs.

In response, the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, met with the protesters. He asked them to stay calm and assured them that talks were ongoing with the electricity company. He said, “We are aware of the issues you have raised, and we are engaging with the relevant authorities to resolve them. I urge you to remain calm as we work towards a solution.”
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