Lekki residents decry two-week power outage, demand action

Residents of Lekki Phase 1 in Lagos are decrying a prolonged power outage that has crippled activities in their neighborhood for almost two weeks. The blackout, caused by a transformer fault, has drawn sharp criticism from residents who accuse the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) of negligence, poor communication, and indifference.

The extended outage has imposed significant financial burdens on residents. Many have reported spoiled food items, while those relying on private generators have faced increased expenses for fuel. Residents expressed their frustration in interviews, highlighting the lack of information and the endless wait for the electricity supply to be restored. They appealed to EKEDC management to urgently fix the transformer serving Alhaji Hakeem Odumosu Street and other affected areas.

One resident, Mr. Taiwo Bolodeoku, described the situation as disturbing and disheartening, noting the transformer blew up nearly two weeks ago. He lamented the absence of information or apologies from EKEDC, stating the company has been indecisive without providing a clear plan for repairs. Another resident, Mrs. Margaret Sogbesan, accused EKEDC of playing politics with the situation, despite promises to restore power.

Life has become unbearable for many, including Mr. David Nezaya, who works from home and has had to run his generator for hours daily. He stressed the difficulty of coping with high petrol prices without reliable electricity. Ms. Efe Obiomah also spoke of having to switch off her refrigerator due to the outage. An EKEDC official, Mr. Adeyemi Razaq, assured NAN that the company was working to restore electricity within the week, stating that necessary materials for the transformer repair had been requested and approved.