Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) says the disco has ordered for equipment required for the rehabilitation of the Oke-Omiru Injection Substation in Ilesha.
Consequently administrative and technical team would visit the substation to begin clean-up, system replacement, among others, John Ayodele, Chief Operating Officer has said
It would be recalled that in April John Donnachie, the Chief Executive Officer of lBEDC), hinted that due to the extensive damage done to IBEDC distribution network infrastructure, specifically the Oke-Omiru injection substation and the accompanying district facilities, power cannot be restored now as hundreds of millions of naira will be required to revamp and rehabilitate the infrastructure.
According to john Ayodele, the company has ordered the equipment required to rehabilitate the Oke -Omiru Injection substation that was damaged during the massive destruction and carnage that occurred at Ilesha”.
The administrative and technical team he said will arrive Ilesha next week to begin initial rehabilitation and renovation works like clean -up of the damaged offices.
Furniture and systems replacement and other critical infrastructure necessary for staff and service to resume would be put in place as all the offices that service Ilesha were destroyed during the ill- fated protest.
On the technical end, he stated that while the company awaits delivery of the equipment needed to rehabilitate the Oke -Omiru Injection substation it will simultaneously explore restoring power temporarily to some parts of Ilesha through one of the neighboring substations, which has been ascertained is in good condition, namely Imo or Ilerin Injection substations.
The IBEDC boss said that the power restoration will be in phases as our technical team progress with the palliative works.
Responding to news making the rounds that IBEDC is deliberating refusing to restore power to Ilesha and threats from some advocacy groups, he stated that it is understandable that stories and so called threats would be peddled from uninformed people to stir rancour.
He added that because the Governor and leadership of the Ilesha people that have been interfacing with IBEDC are aware of all the efforts to restore power.
He said: “That is why we always counsel and appeal to communities never to resort to violence, vandalism and destruction of power infrastructures and installations during protests.
The sad occurrence at Ilesha the company said resulted in destruction of infrastructure worth over N200 million adding that with the already limited financial resources available and other considerations it will never be easy to restore power when unfortunate incidents like this occur, as the funding availability to all Discos are very limited.
He, However, appeal to customers in Ilesha to reciprocate the gestures by paying their bills as and when due.
He also advised that efforts should be made to also pay all outstandings due to enable IBEDC to remain floating.
It will also recalled that Donnachie told the media on the reasons why supply to the affected communities will not be achieved soonest.
Accordingto him: “This is the unfortunate aftermath of the crisis and mayhem unleashed in Ilesha about two weeks ago.
“When a group of hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons like guns, machetes and other sharp objects from Bolorunduro and Olomilagbala communities under Isare Service centre, swooped on our office infrastructures.
