Residents of Alaguntan Community in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State are appealing to the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) to restore power to their community after their electricity transformer was taken away for repairs in February.
The residents said the prolonged absence of electricity has made them vulnerable to attacks from marauders who operate under the cover of darkness. It has also grounded their businesses and other activities that rely on electricity.
When contacted via his WhatsApp platform, the spokesperson for IKEDC, Mr. Kingsley Okotie, said: “The customers are being engaged on efforts to resolve the issue.”
In a ‘Save-Our-Soul’ letter signed by Mr. Alade Ayodeji Oyekunle, Secretary of the Alaguntan Community Development Association (CDA), it was stated that the IKEDC transformer on Taiwo Street, which supplies electricity to about 100 houses in the community, had been removed for repairs since February, leaving residents in darkness.
He explained that the distribution transformer under Ikeja Electric Plc Feeder (11-AlimoshoNJ-T4-Oki Feeder) had a technical issue around January 2024 and was removed from the community.
It was replaced with another transformer after two months of difficulties. However, a few weeks later, the replacement transformer also had issues and was moved out for routine technical maintenance after a formal complaint was logged.
He noted that several emails and messages from the community’s secretariat (SR-5186587) and concerned residents have not been adequately addressed.
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In a complaint letter dated February 29, 2024, to Ikeja Electric, the company assured the residents that their complaint would be duly treated: “Dear Esteemed Customer, we acknowledge receipt of your message and apologize for the inconvenience caused. Please be informed that your complaint has been forwarded to the appropriate unit.
Rest assured that this will be duly treated. Find below your query ticket number for future reference: SR-4986027.”
In another message from IKEDC dated August 7, 2024, the company stated: “Please be informed that a follow-up with the relevant team regarding your complaint is already underway to expedite actions. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused and want to reassure you that we have contacted the relevant unit for prompt resolution.”
However, Alade pointed out that eight months later, power has yet to be restored to Alaguntan community.
“Eight months later, it is highly disheartening to state that we have only had energy supply for less than two months in 2024. Both communal living and business activities have suffered, with residents, including children, wives, and the elderly, scavenging for water from neighboring communities despite the high inflation rates of PMS and Diesel.”
He also highlighted several security breaches at night and a total disruption of human activities. Additionally, 75% of residents in the community use pre-paid meters.
Ayodeji mentioned the dangerously positioned bad wooden electric poles and LT cables, especially at Omopelumi Close, Kokumo Road (down towards the stream), which have been repeatedly reported to IKEDC officials without any action.
He stated that although they have brought their plight to the attention of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), they are passionately appealing to IKEDC to address their suffering and the pains caused by the lack of electricity in their community.
