Ije-Ododo Community appeals to IKEDC, NNPC over outage

Residents of Ije-Ododo, a growing community in Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, have decried the frequent power outage in the area.

The community, according to the Chairman, Coalition of Ije-Ododo Community Development Associations, Mr. Tunji Lawson, has been suffering power outage resulting from pipeline fires, which have occurred on several occasions.

Lawson said: “On December 17, 2012, the community was thrown into darkness because of a pipeline fire. “On Saturday, June 1, 2013, another fire occurred and there was power outage for over six months. On Saturday, May 3, 2014, there was yet another outbreak. The fire that happened on November 6, 2014, caused another outage, which lasted till December 19, 2014 and others.

“ Except for the June 16, 2015 pipeline fire incidence, the community had always taken it upon herself to replace poles that got burnt by the pipeline fire.

“ Moreover, efforts towards prompt restoration of electricity after each fire had always been futile due to the terrain of the area. After the January 27, 2016 fire incidence, the community decided to embark upon self- help project of replacing all the wooden poles with 33 concrete poles.

And after waiting for Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company for almost four weeks without any positive response, series of meetings were held among stakeholders in the community, including but not limited to all the community development associations in Ije-Ododo, Ije-Ododo Road Development Partners and well- meaning individuals in the community, the Chief Imam of Ije-Ododo, and the Baale of the community.

He said an ad hoc committee known as Ije-Ododo Electricity Enhancement Initiative was set up to raise funds from members of the community for the project. The initiative, headed by Prince Frederick Onah Ododo, commenced work and with the support of Ije-Ododo Road Development Partners, began the project on February 22, 2016.

He said on May 18, 2016, power was eventually restored to Ije Ododo community, adding that there was no support from Ikeja Electricity Distribution. He said the community was still owing contractors over N1 million.

He, therefore, appealed to the managements of both Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to assist the community.