After 21 years without public electricity supply, hundreds of inhabitants of Oloyan Community in Ovia South West Local Council and Sulecamp in Ovia North East Local Council received respite yesterday following the installation of a 100kWph Solar Hybrid Mini-grid project by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

Expressing excitement, the Baale (head) of the Oloyan community, Kolawole Olusegun, and the Baale of Sulecamp, Mallam Kareem, said they now believe in the government’s promise that development can reach the grassroots people.

They said the project would ensure economic activities kick off in the area.They thanked the REA for the initiative and successful completion of the project.

Speaking during the commissioning, the Acting Managing Director/CEO of REA, Abba Abubakar Aliyu (represented by the Executive Director, Doris Uboh), said the project aims to improve the lives of rural dwellers.

“The Rural Electrification Fund remains a vital mechanism of the Federal Government, designed to enable developmental impact in rural communities by providing sustainable energy access. Nigeria’s off-grid, renewable energy ecosystem will continue to be a driving force for the Nigerian economy.

“This community, as well as other rural communities being held back across the nation due to the spate of energy poverty in rural communities, deserve a new lease of life,” Aliyu said.

The Permanent Secretary of the Edo State Electrification Agency, Osazuwa Isere, who represented the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, noted that the initiative would bring development closer to the grassroots, adding that the collaboration will drive a brighter and sustainable energy future for Nigerians.

Also, to enhance customer satisfaction and improve service delivery, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has conducted visits and engagements with some of its Maximum Demand (MD) customers in Oyo and Ogun states.

This initiative was part of the company’s ongoing commitment to fostering strong relationships and gathering valuable customer feedback. During the visits, the Managing Director of IBEDC, Francis Agoha, who led the team, emphasised the importance of customer satisfaction and outlined several measures that IBEDC is undertaking to ensure an improved experience.

He highlighted the company’s determination to explore bilateral partnerships and other options. Agoha also mandated the IBEDC team to ensure a quicker turnaround time for fault resolutions, emphasising that prompt response and resolution of issues within IBEDC’s control are critical to maintaining customer trust and satisfaction.

He further assured the customers that IBEDC is committed to strengthening its working relationships with other stakeholders in the power sector to enhance overall service delivery.

He said: “Our engagement with customers is crucial to understanding their needs and ensuring we meet their expectations. Their feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to addressing their concerns and improving our services to meet their expectations. Our goal is to build a power distribution network that is efficient, reliable, and customer-centric.”

Some customers who spoke thanked the firm for the visits and expressed hopes for a more productive working relationship.