Masquerades, Youths Lead Protest Against Electricity Tariff Hike in Kwara Community
Tension flared in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, on Friday as residents—led by masquerades and youth groups—took to the streets to protest the sudden increase in electricity tariffs and the reclassification of the community’s electricity band from Band C to Band A.
The protesters, who converged at the popular Bareke Roundabout, carried placards with bold inscriptions such as “Omu-Aran Says No to Band A”, “Bring Us Back to Band C”, and “Omu-Aran Youths Have Spoken Loudly”, while chanting solidarity songs.
According to the demonstrators, the transition from Band C to Band A has led to a sharp spike in their monthly electricity bills. Residents who previously paid between ₦10,000 and ₦15,000 now claim to be receiving bills ranging from ₦41,000 to ₦47,000 for March 2025 alone.
“We are protesting because of the outrageous bills we received after the unannounced change in our billing category. We were already struggling with poor electricity supply, and now we are being made to pay even more for less,” said one of the youth leaders at the scene.
Many of the protestors expressed frustration over the lack of consultation or prior notice before the change in the billing structure, describing it as “exploitative and insensitive.”
The use of masquerades—traditional cultural symbols in the region—gave the protest a unique and symbolic edge, underlining the depth of the community’s dissatisfaction.
As of the time of this report, officials of the electricity distribution company responsible for the area have yet to respond to the concerns raised by residents.
Community leaders are now calling on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and relevant stakeholders to intervene immediately and revert Omu-Aran to Band C, while ensuring fair and transparent billing practices moving forward.
