Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc (IBEDC) has confirmed that two of its staff members in the Ogun region were abducted on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, and have not yet been found.
The company confirmed the unfortunate incident in a statement issued on Monday, May 4, 2026.
The company said it is deeply concerned about the situation, adding that “our thoughts are with our colleagues and their families at this difficult time.”
According to the statement, IBEDC is working closely with relevant security agencies to ensure the safe return of the affected staff.
The company also stated, “We are in active engagement with their families, providing the necessary support.”
“Given the sensitive nature of this incident and ongoing efforts to resolve it, we are unable to provide further details at this time.
“We kindly request understanding and restraint as we prioritize the safety and well-being of those involved,” the statement concluded.
Hichilema added that achieving the country’s target of 10,000 megawatts of electricity is critical, especially as sectors such as mining, agriculture, and tourism continue to demand more power.
He revealed that the mining sector alone would require about 8,000 megawatts to meet the target of producing three million tonnes of copper.
Meanwhile, Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) board chairperson London Mwafulilwa described the commissioning of the 136-megawatt Itimpi II Solar Plant as a historic milestone, not only for the Copperbelt but for Zambia and the region.
“This project is not simply a corporate milestone; it is a national statement that Zambia can lead Africa’s clean energy transition,” Mwafulilwa said.
The board chairperson disclosed that the project had a direct impact on livelihoods, creating over 2,500 jobs during construction and more than 100 permanent positions for engineers and technicians.
CEC Chief Executive Officer Owen Silavwe noted that the 136-megawatt solar plant, built over 14 months, is currently the largest of its kind in the country and will generate about 275 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually.
“At a time when it matters most, this project will help close the national power supply gap and support key sectors such as mining and manufacturing,” Silavwe said. 
What the band structure reveals
Bands D and E — the tariff categories serving the poorest Nigerians — are priced at just ₦35–37/kWh. These rates are 84–85% below the global average. At this level, no Distribution Company (DisCo) can generate the revenue needed to maintain infrastructure, let alone upgrade it. The result is a self-fulfilling cycle: the lowest-paying customers receive the worst service, reinforcing the very poverty the low tariff was meant to address.
The argument for reform
Artificially suppressed tariffs do not protect vulnerable Nigerians — they guarantee that the grid never improves enough to reach them reliably. A cost-reflective tariff structure, paired with targeted subsidies for genuinely low-income households, would unlock private investment, drastically reduce Nigeria’s dependency on the generator economy, and begin to close the gap between what the grid charges and what it costs to actually deliver power.
The numbers make the case with brutal clarity: Nigerians are already paying for electricity — just to the wrong system
Adetayo Adegbemle is a public opinion commentator/analyst, researcher, and the convener of PowerUpNigeria, an Electric Power Consumer Right Advocacy Group, based in Lagos. (Twitter: @gbemle, @PowerUpNg) 
Following the fire, the Energy Minister and his deputy visited the site and assured Ghanaians that engineers would work around the clock to restore the plant to full operation. He kept the public updated on the restoration exercise.
In his latest update, the Energy Minister said: “In the face of a major system disruption, and against all odds, our engineers, technicians, and emergency teams worked around the clock to restore power and stabilise the grid.
“Through their tireless work, discipline, and commitment to country, power has been restored and system stability secured,” he added.
Dr. Jinapor also expressed appreciation to the leadership and staff of GRIDCo, VRA, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and all supporting agencies whose coordination made the power restoration possible.
Drawing inspiration from the engineers’ efforts, he said, “This moment shows that even under pressure, Ghana can rely on the strength and skill of its people.”
“May God bless our engineers, our energy sector, and our nation,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, addressing Ghanaian workers during May Day celebrations held at Jackson Park in Koforidua on Friday, May 1, 2026, the President said the facility is now fully operational after engineers successfully resolved the technical challenges caused by the incident.
“Just yesterday, I was in Akosombo, here in the Eastern Region, to inspect the damage at the Volta River Authority electricity generation station following the devastating fire in the switchyard control room,” he said.
He continued: “I know many of you are concerned about the disruptions to electricity supply caused by the Akosombo fire, but I want to share the good news that GRIDCo and VRA engineers, working together, have been able to bypass the burnt-out control room and have restarted all six turbines at the Akosombo Generating Station.” 
