Frustrated residents of Love Estate in the Ikorodu-Elepe area of Lagos have vowed to stage a peaceful protest at the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) office in Ikeja on Monday, following a five-month blackout in their community.
The residents, who have been plunged into darkness since December 2024, say the prolonged power outage has disrupted their lives and exposed them to increased insecurity. They claim their businesses have suffered severe losses, and many are spending large sums on fuel to power generators.
According to residents, their ordeal began when the community’s transformer developed a fault and was taken away by IKEDC for repairs on January 3. With no updates or resolution from the power company, the community contributed over N15 million to purchase a new 500KVA transformer, which was then donated to IKEDC in a bid to restore electricity.
However, two months after the donation, the new transformer remains uninstalled and unenergized.
“Each household contributed N75,000. We raised more than N15 million, donated a new transformer, and followed all the procedures, yet there’s no electricity,” said resident Emmanuel Ayanda. “We’ve spent months in darkness. Crime has increased, and businesses are collapsing.”
Another resident, Ranti Olaniyi, expressed frustration over the lack of response from IKEDC despite repeated complaints. “My business is suffering. I can’t run essential equipment, and my turnover has dropped drastically,” she said. “We’ve done all we can. Now we’re calling on the government to intervene.”
Ayo Ikuomola, who also resides in the estate, revealed that he has spent over a million naira on fuel just to keep his business running. “We’ve written several letters and followed up, but nothing has changed,” he lamented. “Women and children now wander daily in search of water and places to charge phones. It’s unacceptable.”
The estate’s Community Development Association (CDA) Chairman, Segun Oni, confirmed the planned protest, saying residents are left with no choice. “We have written to NERC, contacted government agencies, and donated a new transformer. Still, IKEDC has not energized it, nor have they returned the old one. Enough is enough,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from IKEDC proved unsuccessful. The Head of Technical Unit, Samuel Odukoya, declined to speak, referring inquiries to the company’s Corporate Affairs Unit, while the Head of Corporate Communications, Kingsley Okotie, was unreachable.
Residents are now appealing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and other relevant authorities to step in and end their months-long ordeal.
