FIJ
Frustrated by the epileptic power supply experienced in Akoka, Lagos State, some residents were out to demand better services from Ikeja Electric, a power distribution company.
FIJ understands that these residents are under the Band A consumers’ category. They should enjoy 20 to 24 hours of power supply daily. However, these consumers complained that this has not been the case.
They narrated how they have gone from having constant electricity to grappling with two-hour daily supply in a video posted on X on Monday by Nigeria National Grid, a platform that provides update on power distribution.
They held placards with statements such as, “Our business is dying daily”, “Save our soul in Akoka” and “Akoka is totally neglected” as they staged a peaceful demonstration.
A lady who spoke on behalf of the residents said: “We are here this morning as a Lagos community to show how much of displeasure we have encountered. We are here to communicate with Ikeja Electric and the appropriate authorities to please pay attention to us and hear our cries.
“Yes, we have agreed that we have been moved to Band A. We paid for Band A, but we do not have light. We have been starving.
“We went from having constant power supply to barely having two-hour supply daily. It is affecting our businesses. It is affecting our environment. Everywhere is polluted. Everywhere is no longer comfortable.
“So, we are here peacefully to demonstrate the level of discomfort and how unhappy we feel. We have been going to the Ikeja Electric office close to our community but they’ve refused to answer us. And that is why we are gathered this morning. We have jobs that we are doing. We left families at home and then we left everything out there to show how displeased we are.
“So, we are pleading as a community, as one, for Ikeja Electric and the appropriate authorities to listen to our cries to save our communities. Akoka has always been a good community and we wanted it to remain like this.”
In September, residents across three communities in the state protested because they had to pay more after electricity distribution companies upgraded their power supply without notice.
Although the residents enjoyed uninterrupted power supply, they were shocked by the responsibility and cost that came with it.
THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN FIJ
