Blackout: Lagos Residents Expose Ikeja Electric’s ‘Deception

Ikeja Electric (IE) has addressed the ongoing power outage affecting Isokan Phase I & II in Ayobo, Lagos, attributing the blackout to repeated damage to the community’s transformer. According to IE spokesperson Fadeke Olaniyi, the transformer broke down twice due to alleged unauthorized tampering by individuals within the area.

Olaniyi stated that the company had previously engaged local leaders, warning that such interference was harming critical infrastructure, reducing revenue, and disrupting the broader local economy.

“The transformer failed twice due to illegal tampering by unauthorized persons,” she explained, adding that IE had advised community leaders to discourage such acts.

Resistance to Legal Solutions

Olaniyi revealed that IE had suggested lawful means to address billing challenges, such as formal disconnections, but these were rejected by residents, who allegedly opted for illegal alternatives.

“All our efforts to educate them on the consequences of these actions have been ignored,” she said.

Repairs in Progress

Despite the situation, Olaniyi assured that efforts were underway to fix the transformer and implement measures to prevent a repeat occurrence.

Accusations of Media Escalation

She also criticized the community for frequently bypassing internal resolution mechanisms, choosing instead to involve regulators and the media.

“They are quick to escalate to regulators and the press,” she noted.

Community Denies Allegations

However, the Community Development Association (CDA) Chairman, Ademola Orishatola, strongly refuted IE’s claims. He described them as a “cover-up,” alleging that the transformer provided by IE was substandard and lacked essential safety features such as a circuit breaker.

“The transformer is not standard. If it were, a circuit breaker would’ve prevented this. Their claims are simply not true,” Orishatola said.

Residents Dispute Tampering Claims

Local sources who spoke with Naija News maintained that no residents had tampered with the transformer. Instead, they accused IE officials of practicing load-shedding due to the transformer’s limited capacity.

“They’re the ones turning power on and off for different streets,” one resident said. “It’s their Ayobo Undertaking staff managing the load — not residents.”

The source added that IE had acknowledged the transformer was too weak to serve the entire community and thus adopted a “two days on, one day off” electricity rotation schedule.

Longstanding Power Challenges

Residents also pointed to an earlier transformer failure on December 21, 2024, which left the area in prolonged darkness. Though a new transformer was installed in April 2025, it failed within two months, prompting intervention by regulatory bodies like the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

Locals say the persistent outages have forced reliance on expensive generators and inverters, stifling small businesses and affecting livelihoods.