Residents of several communities in Ikorodu area of Lagos State have appealed to Ikeja Electric to restore electricity to their areas, which have been plunged into darkness since July.
The communities include: Adamo, Maya, Isiu, Emuren, Aleke, Ipoyewa, Fakale, Okegbodo among others in Ikorodu North LCDA of the state.
The prolonged blackout has brought life to a standstill, causing immense hardship for the affected residents.
According to the residents, Ikeja Electric had initially attributed the blackout to maintenance work on major facilities, promising that it would last for only two weeks. However, months have passed, and the communities remain without electricity.
The residents expressed outrage over receiving hefty electricity bills despite the persistent power outage. “In August, we had electricity for barely 8 hours, yet we were billed N20,000 for postpaid consumers,” one resident lamented. “The same happened in September, with another bill of N18,000.”
The situation has been further aggravated by frequent power surges, which have damaged household equipment and properties. “In our community alone, we recorded 35 water pumping machines destroyed due to the on-and-off power supply,” a resident revealed.
The residents also alleged that Ikeja Electric deliberately disconnected their area from the main power grid, claiming they couldn’t afford “Band A” electricity rates. They described this move as “sheer nonsense,” questioning the rationale behind the prepaid system if they are not considered worthy of steady power.
“We were not consulted, and this decision feels like an ambush,” one resident said. “They think we’re hapless and can’t fight for our rights, but they’ll be shocked.”
The affected residents are now demanding immediate restoration of electricity and threatening to occupy Ikeja Electric’s offices if their demands are not met. They have also appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene and restore power to their communities.
“We will not sit idly by while Ikeja Electric treats us like this,” a resident vowed. “We will press for our rights, and if that means massive protests, so be it.”