Some residents of Ibeju-Lekki Area in Lagos are demanding a resolution to the prolonged power outage in their communities and also calling for swift action from the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC.

The communities are Ajah, LBS, Sangotedo-Abijo, Awoyaya, Oribanwo, Lakowe, Bogije and Kajola.

Others include Igondo, Eleko, Iberekodo, Orimedu, Akodo, Magbon Alade, Refinary, Lekki Idasho, Badore, Idasho, Folu and the rest of other villages in the Eleko environs.

The residents of the over 10 communities staged a protest at Military Quarters, Eleko Junction, while recounting the impact of the power outrage on their daily lives

The Initiative for Global Advocacy, IFGA, an advocacy group, was also part the protest.

A resident, Michael Popoola, Chairman, Military Quarters, Eleko, said they had been without electricity for over four years.

Mr Popoola stated that despite being asked by EKEDC to procure electrical facilities on their own, the company had failed to supply power to their communities.

He said that the residents had sent numerous complaints and notices to EKEDC regarding the unfair neglect and lack of electricity distribution.

Mr Popoola said that the communities had faced significant hardship as a result of the prolonged power outage.

Mr Masheni Johnson, the founder FGA, who spoke on behalf of the communities, explained the group’s efforts in engaging EKEDC.

Johnson said that a meeting was held with EKEDC on April 25, where it was acknowledged that there had been no electricity supply to the Ibeju-Lekki area for over four years.

According to him, EKEDC made a promise to address the issue but failed to fulfill it.

He said: “EKEDC management quickly ran to make a publication titled; “Power Update” with a promise of heavy power shedding to the residents of Ajah, LBS, Sangotedo Abijo, Awoyaya, Oribanwo, Lakowe, Bogije, Kajola, Igondo, Eleko and its environs between the 3rd of May and 3rd of June 2023.

“This was an indirect respond to our engagement to pacify the people, but a failed promise.

“EKEDC also confirmed that the two major transformers, meant to supply electricity power to the Ibeju Lekki area, have been relocated to an unknown destination by Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) some years ago, thereby leaving Ibeju Lekki area in alter darkness for years.

“EKEDC accepted that they could not procured electrical facilities in some locations of their coverage, such as electrical poles, electrical cables and transformers, hence, the residents resulted to self-help in the provision of electrical poles, electrical cables and transformer as in the case of Military Quarters residents, Eleko Junction.

“The company has refused to supply them with electricity power to date”.

He called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, to conduct a forensic audit of EKEDC to assess their financial stability to continue operating in the electricity distribution business.

He said the residents re-engaged EKDC on May 16 in a physical meeting where the Disco assured them of restoring electricity power supply to the affected communities, but no electricity power supply to date.

Johnson, therefore, urged NERC to direct EKEDC to refund the money spent by the Military Quarters Landlord Residents Association on procuring electricity facilities.

Johnson further urged NERC to ensure that EKEDC supplies power to those communities in the Ibeju Lekki area within seven days.

“The villages in the Beach side such as Eleko inside, Iberekodo, Orimedu, Akodo, Magbon Alade, Refinary, Lekki Idasho, Badore, Idasho, Folu and the rest of other villages in the Eleko environs has resulted to faith by waiting for Dangote Refinery to start operation and supply them electricity.

“And you may be forced to ask, if Dangote is licensed to distribute electricity, your guest is as good as mine.

“All efforts to further engage EKDC on the subject matter has been refuted by the management EKDC.

“Dr Tinuade Sanda, the CEO has done everything within her powers to avoid having meetings with Initiative for Global Advocacy even when we had offered to work with them on the issues,” he added.

Johnson said that the areas that had been without electricity for years are:
Ajah, LBS, Sangotedo Abijo, Awoyaya, Oribanwo, Lakowe, Bogije and Kajola.

Others include Igondo, Eleko, Iberekodo, Orimedu, Akodo, Magbon Alade, Refinary, Lekki Idasho, Badore, Idasho, Folu and the rest of other villages in the Eleko environs.

More To Follow….

For Advert, Event Coverage, PR, Story/Article Publication & Other Media Services
Pls., Send Email To: citizennewsng@gmail.com
Visit Citizen NewsNG To Read More Latest and Interesting News