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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Energy & Infrastructure

Residents turn vigilantes over 11-month blackout in Ogun communities

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Residents of several communities in Ogun State are conducting night patrols due to an 11-month power outage caused by a faulty transformer.
  • The communities have collectively purchased a new transformer but lack the funds for its installation, estimated at N12 million.
  • The prolonged blackout has severely impacted local businesses and raised security concerns.

Residents in the Ogijo area of Sagamu Local Government, Ogun State, have resorted to organizing night patrols to protect their neighborhoods following an 11-month power outage. The blackout stems from a faulty transformer that has left communities like Freedom Estate, Seidu Central, Seidu Estate, Blessed Estate, Ifesowapo, and Agbajowa in darkness.

The issue of the blackout in our communities began about 11 months ago when our transformer developed a fault. We tried to fix it, but it did not work. So, we decided to purchase a new one through crowdfunding from individual donations.

— Joseph OlusojiA resident explaining the origin of the prolonged power outage and the community's initial efforts.

Efforts to repair the original transformer proved unsuccessful. Landlords in the affected communities pooled resources, contributing N100,000 each, to purchase a new transformer. However, they now face a significant hurdle: the installation cost, which has been estimated at N12 million, remains beyond their collective financial reach. This has led them to seek external intervention to restore electricity.

After we purchased the transformer, the communities realised they could not afford the installation cost, prompting them to begin seeking intervention.

— Joseph OlusojiA resident explaining the current financial challenge.

The extended period without power has had a detrimental effect on businesses reliant on electricity. Residents also highlighted the growing security threat posed by the darkness, necessitating the community-led night patrols. The situation has crippled some businesses, like a retiree's drinks stall, due to the combined impact of the blackout and the high cost of fuel for generators.

The blackout has affected businesses and has also posed a security threat to us. We now rely on community policing efforts by residents to keep our communities safe. We take turns conducting night patrols because of the blackout.

— Joseph OlusojiA resident describing the impact of the blackout on business and security.

Residents are appealing for assistance to cover the installation costs and bring an end to the prolonged power disruption that is affecting both their livelihoods and their sense of security.

We contributed N100,000 each to purchase the transformer, and N12m is needed to install it and restore electricity supply, which we cannot afford.

— Abayomi OnasholaA resident detailing the financial contributions and the remaining installation cost.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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