Blackout hits Igando, Ijegun, Ikotun residents in Lagos

Residents of Ikotun, Igando, Ijegun and Isheri Osun in Lagos have been in blackout for about a month due to breakdown of the Ejigbo Transmission Station.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the blackout has crippled economic activities in the Lagos suburbs where many artisans and petty traders depend on electricity for operations.

The residents, led by their various Community Development Associations (CDAs) executives, have lodged several complaints at outlets of Ikeja Electric in the areas but the blackout has persisted.

The Chairman of the Community Road CDA in Ijegun, Mr Abimbola Alabi, told NAN on Tuesday that the community was fed up with the situation.

“When power supply ceased in September, we visited the office of the electricity company and they told us that it was a major fault from Ejigbo Transmission Station.

“They promised to fix it within the first week but it has lingered for over three weeks. The residents cannot bear it anymore,” Alabi said.

He said that many members of the community could no longer carry out businesses that require use of power, as they could not afford to fuel their power generators.

A landlord in Isheri Osun, Mr Kenechukwu Nwaka, said that the blackout had worsened the economic situation of  affected residents.

“We cannot freeze our foods anymore except those who can afford to buy fuel for generators, but many people cannot afford to use power generators anymore because of high fuel price,” he said.

A mechanic, Mr Segun Olanrewaju, said that he had lost some patronage because of the blackout because customers could not pay for using  generator to repair their vehicles.

“The cost of welding has gone high because of the use of generator instead of electricity.  The cost of welding an exhaust pipe has increased from  N1,000 to N1,500,” he said.

A hair dresser, who identified herself simply as Safinat said that she used her generator which meant additional cost.

NAN reported that the power outage has resulted in long queues in petrol stations in the areas as more residents use generators to run their homes and businesses.

The Head of Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric, Mr Felix Ofulue, has, however, said that the company was addressing the issue.