The Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA), the umbrella body representing all community associations within Bodija, has called on the Minister of Power to urgently address the prolonged electricity crisis crippling Old Bodija, New Bodija, Basorun, Iwo Road, Oje, Mokola, and other adjoining areas in Ibadan.
In a statement released to journalists in Ibadan, the President of the association, Pastor Muyiwa Bamgbose, described the situation as unbearable, stressing that the once well-planned estate is now battling a severe and persistent power supply failure.
Established in 1959 by the Western Nigeria Housing Corporation under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Bodija Estate is Nigeria’s oldest planned residential community. Once celebrated as a model for organised urban living, the estate now endures lengthy power outages that sometimes stretch for days or even weeks without explanation from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
Residents lamented that for over five years, electricity supply has been grossly erratic. Despite being initially categorised under Band A, which guarantees a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily—Bodija never enjoyed such supply, even though residents paid the higher tariffs associated with the band. Matters worsened after the federal government’s April 2024 tariff adjustment, which increased Band A rates to N225 per kWh.
Following persistent complaints, the estate was later downgraded to Band B, which promises at least 16 hours of electricity daily. However, residents say the target remains unmet, pushing households and businesses deeper into hardship.
BERA attributed the worsening situation to an overstretched 40MVA transformer managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which currently powers Bodija and neighbouring communities. The transformer is reportedly overloaded and unable to support the rising energy demand across the districts it serves.
To restore normalcy, the association appealed to the Minister of Power and the Federal Government to fast-track the approval and installation of a new transformer before December 2025.
According to BERA, this critical intervention would reinstate a stable power supply, revive struggling local businesses, and significantly improve the living conditions of thousands of residents.
They added that resolving the crisis would not only revive Bodija’s legacy as Nigeria’s first planned housing estate but also demonstrate the government’s commitment to equitable power distribution and sustainable community development.
