LAGOS RESIDENTS LAMENT 4-MONTH BLACKOUT!

Residents of Ike Oluwa Jubilee in Agbado-Ojokoro, Lagos State have said they have given up on electricity in the area.

The residents’ pessimism was based on non-availability of a transformer in the area for about four months.

When newsmen visited the community on Saturday, business activities were barely alive as many shops were closed while some idle artisans were seen engaging in chit-chats.

The transformer was said to have initially developed fault in November 2013.

The residents claimed to have contributed N600, 000 for its repair before it developed fault again on January 25, a month after it was fixed.

It was gathered that the Ikeja Distribution Company, in February, restrained the residents from contributing to buy a new transformer, assuring them of getting one soon.

It was also alleged that officials of the new distribution company threatened not to install if the community went ahead to buy a new transformer.

The residents told newsmen that there was no sign that a new one would be installed as promised by the management of the new electricity company.

The Chairman, Ike Oluwa Jubilee Landlords Association, Mr. Najeem Salami, said, “We have discussed the issue with the Business District Manager of the IKEDC, one Mr. Okoye, our LCDA Chairman, Mr. Benjamin Olabanjo; and a member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Omisore Ipoola. We also wrote letters to IKEDC. They all promised to come to our aid, but till now, nothing has happened.”

The treasurer of the LCDA, Mr. Khalidu Alausa, noted that thieves were capitalising on the blackout to burgle shops at night, adding that women had to walk miles to fetch water as there was no electricity in the community to pump water from boreholes.

A landlord, Mr. E.A. Owolola, 68, said his tenants had been packing out due to the prolonged outage and wondered what he would live on if all of them eventually vacated his house.

A chemist and resident, Mr. Adebayo Sulaiman, said catering for his family’s needs was becoming difficult because of low sales.

“My life depends on this medicine store. It is what I use to cater for my family and sponsor my education. Once it is 7pm, I just have to close the shop because of darkness and that is when people usually patronise me most. I have lost much of my capital to generator. For four months now, there is no light and there is no hope of having it soon,” Sulaiman said.

Ademoye Desmond, who lives on Jagunmolu Street, said he had “little or no access” news using his electronics. He called on the government and the IKEDC company to address the problem.

A hair dresser, Mrs. Fashina Mulikat, said she had been losing customers to her colleagues in the neighbouring communities because she could not use her dryer.

Attempts to get comments from Manager, IKEDC and the LCDA chairman proved abortive as they did not respond to calls and messages made to their mobile phones.

Share on Google Plus

About Unknown

Deji Sadiq, a.k.a DEJI OF LAGOS is a LASU trained Economist turned freelance journalist, a Blogger, an information strategist, a public affairs analyst and a committed activist with a passion for equal opportunities.