The protesters, consisting of landlords and residents from 10 communities in Ibeju Lekki, gathered at Military Quarters in Eleko Junction to express their dissatisfaction with the neglect shown by EKEDC and to highlight the impact of the power outage on their daily lives.
Representing the communities, the Initiative for Global Advocacy (IFGA) has stepped forward to advocate for the restoration of the power supply. Michael Popoola, the chairman of Military Quarters in Eleko, revealed that the residents have been living without electricity for over four years.
Despite EKEDC's request for the residents to procure electrical facilities independently, the company has failed to provide power to their communities.
Masheni Johnson, the founder of the NGO, spoke on behalf of the communities and shared the efforts they have made to engage with EKEDC. Johnson mentioned a meeting that took place on April 25, during which it was acknowledged that the Ibeju Lekki area had been without electricity for over four years. EKEDC made promises to address the issue but failed to follow through.
Johnson alleged that EKEDC quickly published a "Power Update" with a promise of heavy power shedding for the residents of Ajah, LBS, Sangotedo Abijoh, Awoyaya, Oribanwo, Lakowe, Bogije, Kajola, Igondo, Eleko, and surrounding areas between May 3 and June 3, 2023.
He further claimed that the two major transformers intended to supply electrical power to the Ibeju Lekki area had been relocated to an unknown destination by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) several years ago, leaving the Ibeju Lekki area in darkness for an extended period.
In response to the demands of the residents, Johnson called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to conduct a forensic audit of EKEDC to assess its financial stability and determine its ability to continue operating in the electricity distribution business.
The affected villages, such as Eleko inside, Iberekodo, Orimedu, Akodo, Magbon Alade, Refinery, Lekki Idasho, Badore, Idasho, Folu, and other surrounding areas, have been relying on the hope that the Dangote Refinery would commence operations and provide them with electricity.
Babatunde Lasaki, a spokesperson for EKEDC, responded to the situation, stating that the intervention of the federal government and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is necessary to construct a 330/132KV substation in the area, which would enable more equitable power distribution.
Lasaki explained that the current TCN station at Ajah is insufficient to meet the power needs of the area and emphasised that constructing a new substation is the permanent solution. He assured the residents that efforts are being made to expedite the construction of the new substation.
The residents of Ibeju Lekki are hopeful that their demands for a resolution to the prolonged power outage will be heard and addressed, bringing relief to their communities.
(NAN)