Ikorodu residents threaten showdown with Ikeja Electric over poor power supply 

Residents of some communities in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State have threatened a showdown with Ikeja Electric following poor power supply in their areas.

Mostly affected are the Rofo community, Odogunyan, Idera and WAEC Estate. The Guardian learnt that the residents have suffered near total blackout for the past five weeks without any cogent explanation from officials of Ikeja Electric.

Some of the residents, who spoke on the issue, alleged that their problem started in the middle of November 2024, and has continued till date. A resident and technician in the area, Josiah Omobule, said the power supply in the Rofo community and environs was nothing to write home about since November last year.

“At first, we thought there was a major breakdown that led to the blackout in Rofo and these areas. But there is a constant electricity supply at Lambo Lasunwon First Gate and some other parts like Odola in Odogunyan. They will flash the light at times, and before you can rush into your house to pump water, it is off.

“In some cases, Ikeja Electric gave light for just an hour by 3:00 a.m. in the middle of the night. You have to stay awake to pump water between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. Once you miss that chance, you will have to go begging for water,” Omobule stated.
Another resident, who gave his name simply as Paul described the situation as pure wickedness.

According to him, he has not noticed any major fault affecting the facilities in the area since November 2024, when the power outage started. He said: “It was only once or twice that Ikeja Electric flashed our lights in the daytime since November.

“Rofo community, Idera, WAEC Estate and the affected area in Odogunyan used to enjoy constant electricity supply before the issue of Band A, B and C came in.

“Before then we used to have at least 16 hours of power supply in these areas. Suddenly, there is no power supply at all.” Paul said the most annoying aspect of the issue was that there is no official explanation regarding this blackout from Ikeja Electric even though all the affected communities have a high rate of criminality at night.

“ Besides, the weather is very hot and we can’t sleep well at night. The government should look into this privatisation of our electricity. To me, it is a failed partnership as far as electricity is concerned.”

“The investors are not real businessmen and there is no sign of improvement soon.  “We buy electric poles, wires and even the transformer whenever the one servicing the area breaks down. Even the prepaid they promised us over the years are not available till now.

“How come Lambo Lasunwon and Odola side of Odungunya are enjoying 24 hours of electricity supply and we are in darkness?  “Majority of students of Lagos State University of Science and Technology reside in Rofo community and Idara. They are asking questions. We can’t take this anymore because we are experiencing unprecedented hardships.

“We are mobilising and in a couple of days, they will see our red eyes,” Paul said.

Meanwhile, The Guardian gathered that the residents have since begun searching for a solution to the problem. According to a community source, the residents recently constituted a committee to discuss with Ikeja Electric but regretted that their efforts are not yielding good results.

When The Guardian tried to reach out to Mr Kingsley Okotie, the Communications Manager of Ikeja Electric, he did not respond to messages sent to his phone and did not pick up his calls.

But an official of Ikeja Electric, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “I have received a series of complaints from residents of Rofo Community, Idera and WAEC Estate but I have not been able to trace where the issue of constant blackout is coming from. I will share information with you as soon as I get it.”