THE management of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) has said that starting from Tuesday, September 6, some areas in Alimosho Local Government Area will experience blackouts for 10 days.
In a statement on Sunday, the company listed the affected areas as: the General Hospital (comprising Unity, Lanre, Oko Filling, Egan, Isuti, Agric Road, Igando Tuntun (New Igando), Akesan, Obadore, and Igando-Ikotun.
According to the electricity company, some old panels at its Igando injection substation need to be replaced.
It explained that the replacement of the panels is geared toward improving the quality and quantity of power in the areas that will be affected.
“As part of our efforts at improving the quality and quantity of power supply, we have decided to replace old panels at our Igando Injection Substation. This exercise will last for ten (10) days, from Tuesday, 6th to Monday, 15th September 2022,” the company said in the statement.
Meanwhile, Moshalashi Road and Oko Baba Oto, both communities under the company’s coverage in Egan have been without power supply since November 2021.
Checks by NaijaTimes reveal that the transformer (a 500KVA) that was serving the community was taken away by the IKEDC and has since not been returned or replaced by the company.
Some residents of the area who spoke to NaijaTimes said each residence was made to contribute N20,000 for the purchase of a new 500KVA transformer, which is to be used by 13 streets within the community.
“After the initial N20,000 we were made to contribute, each residence was asked to pay another N7,000 for the repair of the old transformer that was taken away. This brings the total money contributed to N27,000 per residence, and we have on my street alone about 50 houses.
“Moshalashi Road alone boasts of over 200 houses. Although a part of the street uses a different transformer. But from Ibidunni Street to Oko Baba Oto, you have 200 houses. This is excluding the other streets that are on the transformer, which some of them boasts of over 50 houses,” said Ibrahim Obaluaye, a resident.
Another resident of the area, who simply identified himself as Idowu, alleged that the IKEDC in connivance with the Community Development Association’s (CDA) leadership is being economical with the truth about the money being levied on the residences.
“We have on good authority that over N20,000,000 have been contributed and given to IKEDC Igando Undertaking Office. We are responsible for the purchase of poles, and distribution cables whenever they are faulty. This excludes the ‘thank you’ given to the officials for coming to do the job they are being paid.
“We are tired of IKEDC daylight robbery in our community. Even after acquiring PHCN assets following the unbundling of the latter for effective and efficient service delivery, the official still exudes the civil service mentality of ‘tip-me-to-do-your-job,” Idowu said.
