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Lagos Community Decries Two Months Power Outage, Accuses IKEDC Of Insensitivity

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Saturday, April 15th, 2017
3 comments
Residents of Alaguntan Community in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos have decried two months’ power outage in the area due to a faulty transformer, saying the outage was causing untold hardship to residents of the community.
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A resident of the community and system analyst operating at Omopelumi Street, Mr. Ayodeji Alade, said the management of Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) had not been up and doing in replacing their faulty transformer.

“Alaguntan community has been very peaceful and we have used our resources to support the operations of IKEDC ever since it came on stream in November 2013. “Two years ago, we had an issue with our transformer and through communal effort the transformer was replaced. “We were even provided a relief transformer through MTN Foundation, but after a year, the same transformer was down again.

“We have been thrown into darkness for two months now by IKEDC and the company is not ready to come to our assistance. “IKEDC is not living up to its responsibility. Imagine calling the company just to change a damaged electric pole to save the lives of people; since August 2016, nothing has been done after lots of efforts, calls and emails,’’ he said. Another resident, Mr. Samuel Adeyemi, said consumers in the area paid through sweat and blood for the running of the company.

“It is on good record that poles, cable and even transformers were provided by the residents for the company, yet there is no compensation for us. “It is high time we took the bull by the horn to get justice. We seek justice, we need help, we cannot pay for the sins of those they claim are indebted to them and be put in darkness.

“Power must be restored to us, many residents have been patriotic enough to pay their bills. “If there is no power supply, business activities cannot move forward. We are spending so much on petrol, we urge the company to support the community leaders who are willing to assist,’’ another resident, Samuel Adeyemi stated.

Also, Mr. James Igbe, a resident of No. 9, Salami Close, said the case of their transformer was a sad one. Igbe said it was pathetic that IKEDC was linking the restoration of power supply to the community to the payment of outstanding bills. A youth leader in the community, Kenneth Okoli, alleged that the transformer given to the community was a `refurbished one,’ which accounted for its breakdown in less than a year.

“IKEDC brought a refurbished transformer to the community about a year ago, and since then, we have not enjoy power supply. The transformer is bad and we are in total blackout for about two months now. “We are suffering in this place and we want the company to intervene; we spend huge money on fuel each day; there is heat and there is no water,’’ Keneth stated.

When contacted the Head, Corporate Communications Unit of the company, Mr. Felix Ofulue said the company would look into the problem. Ofulue said it was true that the transformer given to the community did not last for a year before it exploded. He said the company had sent its engineers to look into the reasons why the equipment was not performing optimally. He assured the residents that another transformer would be provided for the community soon. He however, appealed to the residents not to vandalise the equipment in their area.

3 Responses

  1. IKEDC should please restore back power to every area where there’s total black out because my community is also affected.

  2. This is getting really serious PHCN is no longer making sense and this is really getting out of control. bring back our light!

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