By: Lauretta Fagbohun.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (YAYI), the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, has commenced the fulfilment of his promise to restore electricity to more than 50 communities in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area and other parts of Ogun East Senatorial District that have remained without power for over a decade.
The senator has released funds for the commencement of the re-electrification project, barely two weeks after pledging to finance the initiative from his personal resources during a consultative visit to the affected communities. The intervention, estimated to cost hundreds of millions of naira, is aimed at restoring electricity to areas whose power infrastructure had been destroyed by vandalism.
Funds were transferred over the weekend to contractors mobilised for the project, paving the way for immediate commencement of work across several communities.
The communities benefiting in Ogun Waterside include Onikintimbo, Gbegude, Olorunsogo, Malofe, Itebu-Manuwa, Mile 3 and Mile 4, Igede, Oni, Alo, Olojumeta, Ibiade, Agodo, Tigara, Igbafo, Ilushin, Camps, Agbure, Efire, Lomiro, Obu, Ayede, Abigi, Ayila, Ita Ogun, Ita Otu, Makun Omi, Igbo Edu, Ode Omi and Awodikora.
The project also extends to Ijebu East Local Government Area, covering communities such as J3 Junction, Mafowoku, Trianger, Fowoseje, Fotedo, Itapanpa, Denurin, Malara, Terelu, Toliwo, Uba, Ebute Imobi, Oki Igbode, Itasin, Araromi, Togunselu and Orita J4.
Speaking on the initiative, Senator Adeola said he was deeply concerned after discovering that many communities which previously enjoyed electricity had remained in darkness for more than 10 years because residents could not afford to replace vandalised power infrastructure.
“I was disturbed to learn that a vast area of my state has been in darkness for over a decade, with all the negative consequences for socio-economic development and the standard of living of the people. There are things we should not leave entirely to governments with limited resources. That is why I made a personal commitment to restore electricity to these communities,” he said.
During a meeting with the project’s lead contractor and the representative of Ogun Waterside State Constituency, Hon. Lawal Samusideen Adekunle, the senator urged the contractor to execute the project within the shortest possible time.
He expressed optimism that the successful completion of the project would significantly improve the quality of life of residents and stimulate economic activities across the affected communities.
The intervention has already attracted widespread commendation from stakeholders in Ogun Waterside.
In a letter dated June 20, 2026, the Ogun Waterside Patriotic Forum expressed appreciation to Senator Adeola for initiating the restoration of electricity to the area after years of neglect.
The letter was jointly signed by the Chairman of the Ogun Waterside Council of Obas and Ojutumoro of Abigi, Oba Olusegun Ogunye; former member of the House of Representatives and former Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Abiodun Abudu Balogun; former Ogun State Commissioner for Education and former Vice-Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education, Professor Segun Awonusi; Executive Chairman of Ogun Waterside Local Government, Hon. Adetoye Odunjoiki; and Engineer Afolabi Ganiyu.
The forum described the project as a transformational intervention, noting that the restoration of electricity would revive businesses, improve education and healthcare, and restore economic life to the affected communities.
“We write to express our profound gratitude for facilitating the restoration of electricity to our communities after more than a decade of total darkness. Upon completion, students will be able to study at night, artisans will return to work, cold rooms will become operational again, and our communities will come alive once more. This is more than electricity; it is the restoration of dignity and economic prosperity,” the letter stated.
