Ojo communities complain as they experience prolong power outages

Solomon Ezeme

Some areas under the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) network have been in darkness for the past six days. Customers of the DisCos in the affected areas have expressed their disappointment about the outages, especially about the delay by the DisCo in notifying them on efforts made to address the situation.

The outages which, according to the DisCo, were due to a faulty circuit breaker in one of its facilities within the Ojo business district, sparked a lot of reactions from customers who were displeased by the EKEDC’s delay in fixing the problem and restoring power to them.

The DisCo, around 7p.m on Wednesday, released a public notice on its ongoing efforts in conjunction with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to fix the faulty breaker.

It apologized to its customers for the inconveniences brought on them by the prolonged outages being experienced by communities within its Ojo business district.

The notice read: “Dear customer, we regret to inform customers within our Ojo business district that the outage being experienced is due to a faulty breaker.

“Areas affected are Ojo, Iba, Isashi, Shibiri and environs. We’re working with our TCN partners on a swift resolution and will keep you updated.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Electricity users living within some of the affected areas, however reacted to the notice, lamenting the hardship the poor power situation has resulted in.

Others appreciated the DisCo for its present decision and efforts to fix the issue, but blamed it for not notifying its customers early enough.

Raheem Nurudeen said, “What is the problem with Oko Afo area along Badagry Express Way?

“Since on Saturday we have been in darkness.”

Another resident who identified himself as Mr Oluwatobiloba, complained that he has been burning fuel since the outage in his community and is tired of the regular excuses given by the DisCo.

“Understanding that we will sleep in darkness and I have been using generator in my office since yesterday?

“If it’s not circuit breaker issue today, it would be another excuse tomorrow,” he said.

Queen Ogo-Ugo was only unhappy about the delay in communicating the efforts being made to the customers.

She said, “I am glad you have finally said something. You updated us about that of the Island with immediate effect, but it took you about five days to update the areas currently experiencing power outages. Thanks anyway.”

Padonu Kelvin said, “So we won’t be using water for how long? What I use to get the water I drink and use fore house chores in my compound is a pumping machine.

“I think you ought to know how important water is and be considerate.”

Customers of the DisCo from other areas also complained about the power situation in their communities.

Adelani Damilare Samuel, a resident of Greenvile Estate in Ajah, disclosed that the estate usually does not have power supplied to it at night and barely enjoys six hours of daily electricity.

“Your service at Greenvile Estate, Badore, Ajah is the worst.

“Hardly do we use up to 6 hours of electricity a day. Here, we don’t even sleep with light. What’s the essence of restoring power by 5 a.m or 6 a.m in the morning when we are set to go out of our homes?

“Why can’t we have electricity Supply overnight?” He said.

Another customer, Thompson Robinson, said, “For the past 6 days now, your so-called engineering teams could not resolve the situation, and your information team is not even straightforward in feeding us back on our various platforms.

“How long will I continue to buy 5 bags of pure water (sachet water) to bathe before going to work?

“Very soon, your marketers will start distributing bills to us for payment. You know the needful, do it and stop telling us same stories with the same headlines every month.”