Residents of New London Estate Community in Baruwa area of Alimosho, Lagos, have cried out to Ikeja Electric to provide them electricity and end the darkness foisted on them.
Speaking under the aegis of Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity, CARE, the residents said they have suffered enough darkness, hence the call.
In a release signed by the Coordinator and Secretary of the group, Chinedu Bosah and Shoyombo M.K respectively, the group noted that for over twelve years, residents of the area have been suffering poor electricity supply.
They listed the affected communities as New London Estate, mechanic village and Olorunjube Community Development Association which comprises of over 31 streets with over 1300 houses.
According to them, the three transformers servicing the areas were largely inadequate. “The substation at Abesan Gate is working abysmally while many other electricity facilities are dilapidated. Most of the facilities including two of the three transformers, aluminum conductors, poles and other facilities were provided by the communities,” they added.
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They lamented that rather than providing additional electricity facilities and equipment, fixing and upgrading the existing infrastructure, “Ikeja Electric has continued to manage this poor state of facilities to the detriment of the residents, leading to heavy load-shedding wherein the residents are placed on one-day-on, one-day-off which means 15 days of supposed electricity supply in a month whereas residents do not enjoy electricity on an on-day as it is either extremely low current or total darkness because the transformers or/and other facilities are working badly.”
The statement said further, “To add insult to injury, most of the residents are placed on fraudulent and outrageous estimated billing because Ikeja Electric has refused to issue functional prepaid meters to most of the residents in the entire community and beyond.”
The electricity crisis forced the residents to the protest and picketing of Ikeja Electric headquarters at Alausa Ikeja, Lagos State on February 7, 2019 and they have vowed to continue the protest until their demands are met.
They are demanding that Ikeja Electric should provide and install 3 additional 500KVA transformers for better service, upgrade the substation or provide a better substation and issue free and functional prepaid meters to all residents.