Dark Days In Lagos: Residents Lament As Ikeja Electric Fails To Fix Faulty Transformer

Once again, residents of Isokan Phase I and II, Wakilu Street, Greenlake, and parts of Ashipa in the Ayobo area of Lagos State have expressed their frustration over the persistent power supply issues that have plagued their communities for years.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The power crisis, stemming from a faulty and outdated transformer, has left homes and businesses in turmoil. The transformer, which is no longer in service, has struggled to meet the growing electricity demand, leading to frequent breakdowns and prolonged outages that disrupt daily activities and livelihoods, compounding residents’ suffering.

To cope, many residents have resorted to alternative energy sources such as generators and inverters, incurring significant expenses at a time when the cost of living has soared due to recent fuel price hikes.

Community sources informed Naija News of an existing agreement for Enaro Energy to take over electricity production and distribution in the area, but they allege that Ikeja Electric has delayed its implementation. Furthermore, residents lament that Ikeja Electric has yet to replace the broken transformer, which was removed weeks ago for repairs but has not been returned.

Despite submitting a formal petition to Ikeja Electric, the community claims the power company has not taken any meaningful action to address their grievances, leading to accusations of neglect and foot-dragging.

“The People Are Suffering”

An elder from Isokan Phase I, Baba Adewale Badmus, described the hardships faced by residents, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

“This is an emergency. We have to cry out to draw the attention of the authorities to this issue,” Baba Badmus told Naija News.
“We are not attacking Ikeja Electric but demanding that our challenges be addressed. People are suffering. I know how much I spend on petrol due to the power outage. All we want is for Ikeja Electric to provide a new transformer.”

“We Need a New Transformer That Works”

Echoing Baba Badmus, another community leader, Mr. Samuel Adu, criticized Ikeja Electric for their lackluster response. He highlighted that families in the affected areas endured the Christmas and New Year celebrations in complete darkness.

“The transformer had been problematic for a long time before it finally broke down over a month ago. We sent an official letter to Ikeja Electric, but no action has been taken,” Adu said.

He further explained the erratic power supply residents faced before the transformer failed entirely, noting that the company’s one-day-on, one-day-off schedule was rarely adhered to.

“For over a month now, we’ve been in total darkness. We’ve written to Ikeja Electric asking them to inspect and replace the transformer, but we’ve received no response.”

Residents are now appealing to Ikeja Electric and relevant authorities to urgently address the issue, provide a new transformer, and restore normalcy to their lives.