Badagry residents lament outages

Notwithstanding the improvement in power supply in several parts of the state, residents in Badagry axis of Lagos have cried out on the perpetual darkness that is currently the lot of the boundary communities.

In Ajara, where the cries were loudest due to power outage in the last four weeks, the residents have appealed to the state government to come to their aid.

In a related development, the state government at the weekend distributed 49 power transformers to some rural communities, to ease the power challenge faced by the people.

Ajara residents told The Guardian that the border area, made up of over 14 villages, appeared to have been abandoned by the state government and left to wallow in underdevelopment.

A resident, Dr. Abiola Ayeola, said the power challenge had protracted for several years without any remedy from the power service station.   Ayeola said it was worrisome to notice significant power improvement in neighbouring suburbs, “while we continue to remain in darkness in Ajara as if we are not part of the change era.”

He said considering its borderline status between Nigeria, Benin Republic and the West African coast at large, Ajara is quite strategic to national security. Lawmaker representing Badagry II Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Setonji David, said the problem dated back to 15 years ago, with population increase in the area without efforts to expand infrastructure.

David noted that the Electricity Distribution Company had been reached severally, “but their complain is that we need up to 33 KVA transformer because the 11 KVA that has been serving us for years is no longer adequate.”

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Jafar Sanuth, who presented the transformers on behalf of the state government, said they were given to reduce the challenge of unsteady power supply that is crippling businesses and making life unbearable for the citizens, most especially in the rural communities.

Sanuth said the gesture was in line with governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s commitment to impact rural communities in the state. The 49 transformers will be connected to the national grid in two weeks under the first phase, while the second phase would involve the procurement and installation of over 50 transformers, which would be distributed to rural communities in Epe, Badagry, Ibeju Lekki and Ikorodu.