Kwara Hotel Owners Protest Electricity Tariff Hike

Date: 2024-05-28

According to a news report from Punch, the Association of Hotel Owners in Kwara State took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against what they termed an "outrageous and insensitive" increase in electricity tariffs imposed by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

The protest culminated at the office of the Nigeria Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) on Kwara State Stadium Road, Ilorin. The association's president, Alhaji Dauda Akande, handed over a petition outlining their grievances to the Secretary of the Ilorin branch of NERC.

The protesters' complaints included the substantial hike in electricity tariffs, alleged computer manipulation, and the limited hours of electricity supply provided by IBEDC, which manages electricity distribution in Kwara State.

Some Placards carried by the hoteliers read, “IBEDC, stop hike in Electricity tariff, We say capital no to high Electricity tariff by IBEDC, We will not allow IBEDC to drive us out of business, NERC, please rescue us from high Electricity tariff impose on our members by IBEDC”, among others

In the letter presented to the NERC secretary, Akande alleged that the IBEDC wanted to drive members of the hotel owners in the state out of business with the high Electricity tariff being imposed on them.

According to him, “In its recent upward review of its tariffs, IBEDC outrageously and insensitively increased the electricity tariff of its band A customers, under which many of our members fall, from N74 to N225 per unit.

“The company later effect marginal downward review to N205 per unit. This afterthought marginal reduction is grossly inadequate and many of our businesses cannot survive this tariff hike under the prevailing economic situation of our country.

“If IBEDC fails to effect a substantial downward review of its tariffs, many businesses would collapse and there would be inevitable job losses across the country. This would only compound the current economic challenges of our dear country.

“We hereby demand a substantial downward review of the electricity tariffs to prevent the imminent collapse of our businesses and job losses.

“We implore the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission to intervene without further delay to save our businesses and jobs.

“The presiding member, Nigeria Electricity Commission Forum, Ilorin should please forward our submitted letter of protest to Nigeria Electricity Commission head office at Abuja for the urgently needed intervention,” the association pleaded.

One of the protesters, Mr Funsho Ibrahim who is the General Manager of the hotels in Ilorin said that the new tariff given to him by IBEDC was N25m after the marginal review of the new tariff.

Funsho said, “The tarrif rose from N6m to N25m which is 75 per cent more than what was given to me before. We also pay taxes to the state and local government councils as well as other taxes.

“If the government wants us to remain in business, they have to find a solution to this high tariff as well as these taxes.”

When contacted for reaction, the chairman of the Ilorin branch Forum of NERC, Mr Amos Ajanaku who said that he was on his way to Ibadan, Oyo State for a meeting promised that the association complaint would be forwarded to the NERC office, Abuja.

“I have been informed of the protest of the association by the Secretary and she said that they have submitted a letter containing their grievances.

“We will forward it to the NERC office in Abuja for possible action and assure them that their letter will get to Abuja,” Ajanaku said.

Earlier in May, the Nigeria Labour Congress shut the gates of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company in Ilorin, Kwara State seeking the reversal of the electricity tariff earlier imposed – a nationwide protest.

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     KwaraLearn     CKNG     Orisa Bridge     Iyabo Dupe Adekeye     Jawondo     Ilorin Emirate     Guber Aspirant     Fatai Olodo     Sidikat Akaje     Ademola Kiyesola     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Ayodele Shittu     Toyin Sanusi     Logun     MATTA Girls Foundation     Young Progressives Party     Olatunji Bamgbola     Olatunde Michaels     Barakat Community Secondary School     Towoju     Alao Ayotunde     Omoniyi M. Ayinla     Ibrahim Sulu Gambari     ENetSuD     Rotimi Oyedepo     HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity     Smart School     Share/Tsaragi     Prince Sunday Fagbemi     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     CCEPE     Bureau Of Lands     Hassanat Bello     Borgu     Omotosho     Sa\'adu Salau     Bola Iyabo Ibiyeye Adisa     Ibraheem Abdullateef     Jimba Babatunde     Kanu Agabi     CACOVID     Neuropsychiatric Hospital     Mahmud Durosinlohun Atiku     IsDB     Gwanara     JSSCE     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     Veterinary Teaching Hospital     Akanbi-Oke     Babata     Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria     Okin Biscuits     ITP     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Sarakite     Idofin     Abdullahi Samari     Summit University     IESA     Ganmo     Oyedun Juliana Funke     Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh     GANZY     Musa Aibinu     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     Ambassador Kayode Laro     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Isiaka Alikinla     Sobi     Sarah Jubril     Ayodele Olaosebikan     TVC Female National Debate     Convocation Ceremonies     Salman Alada     Toyosi Thomas     Alapansapa    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Omotoso Musa     Usman Rifun     Saka Adeyemo     Metro Park     Sabitiyu Grillo     Solomon Edojah     Adekunle David Dunmade     CKNG     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Magaji Erubu     Suleiman Abubakar     Moro     Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Aisha Gobir     Bashirat Bola Bello     Marafan Shonga     Musbau A. Akanji     Kola Ologbondiyan     Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Budo-Egba     UNILORIN Alumni Association     Abdulazeez Arowona     Prince Sunday Fagbemi     Kwara Polytechnic     Galland Marcias     Alfa Yahaya Road     Tafida Of Ilorin     Sobi     Ayobami Seriki     Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited     Niyi Ogundiran     Tunde Saad     Kwarareports     Ahmad Lawan     Abdulrazaq Aiyelabegan     Gbemisola Saraki     Nurudeen Muhammed     ASUU     Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Allocation     Sobi Hill     Kazeem Oladepo     NAWOJ     Senior Ibrahim Suleiman     SDP     Academic Staff Union Of Universities     Okedare     M.Y. Abdulrahaman     Kayode Yusuf     Kwara Metro Park     New Nigeria People’s Party     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Mumini Ishola Hanafi     Saudat Abdulbaqi     Aso-ofi     Ilorin General Hospital     Peter Amogbonjaye     Pius Abioje     Afonja     Yahaya Seriki Gambari     Olushola Saraki     Afeyin-Olukuta     Ibrahim Issa Jetti     Alaaya     Razak Atunwa     Babs Iwarere     Bola Shagaya     Abdulrazaq Sanni     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Folashade Omoniyi     Moronfoye     Inside Kwara     Lawyers Unite Against Corruption     Niguel Gallando Marcias