Residents of Lekki Scheme II, Ajah, Lagos, have endured poor power supply from the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) since 2018.
Ajibola Akinsete, the chairman of the residents’ association, told FIJ on Saturday that since 2024, they had received only four hours of power supply every two days from the distribution company (DisCo).
He explained that this rationing, known as load shedding, began in 2018 and has worsened over time. It stems from an abandoned 11 kVA substation built by the Lagos State Government, which EKEDC only recently took over but has made little progress on.
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“On Monday, we held a protest against EKEDC for the epileptic power supply in our area. This is despite the load shedding the DisCo has been doing with us since 2018,” Akinsete told FIJ.
“Load shedding in our area began in late 2018 first with a two-day on, one-day off schedule, with an average of six hours of electricity per day on the days on. On off days, there won’t be supply at all.
“In 2022, the loading shedding stopped temporarily but the supply remained poor. At the start of 2023, another load-shedding schedule was introduced. This time, one day on, one day off.
“From January to April 2024, the average daily electricity supply was only three hours and 57 minutes.
“To date, the community remains on the one-day-on, one-day-off schedule.”
Residents protesting against EKEDC on Monday. Photo credit: Ajibola Akinsete.
Akinsete further explained that the substation, built in 2002, was abandoned when the now-defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) was privatised. EKEDC refused to take over the facility, citing vandalism.
“In June 2021, we staged a protest and drew the state government’s attention to the longstanding issue. It then awarded the contract of rehabilitation in 2022 which was completed in February 2024,” Akinsete told FIJ.
The resident said that EKEDC claimed it lacked funds to complete the project and its attempts at getting investors were also futile.
“Initially, EKEDC claimed a lack of funds and sought investors but was unsuccessful. After NERC’s intervention in August 2024, a contract was awarded to Gosslink Nigeria Limited in October 2024,” Akinsete said.
“Work commenced on November 11, 2024, and was expected to last six weeks. EKEDC assured residents that the substation would be operational by Christmas.
“However, by the first week of December, work either stopped or slowed significantly. Further inquiries revealed that EKEDC had stopped releasing funds to the contractor. Since then, progress has been extremely slow.”
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Meanwhile, in response to a petition they wrote to EKEDC on July 16, the company said it would ensure the injection substation was completed and commissioned by the end of November 2024.
It also said it would coordinate with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to work on the double circuit line from the Ajah Transmission Station.
However, Akinsete said none of these promises has been fulfilled.
The response from EKEDC to their petition.
“As against immediately operating the injection substation handed over by the Lagos State Government, additional works are required to ensure that the substation is ready to evacuate power to customers within the Lekki Axis, including your client,” EKEDC’s response reads.
“In this regard, we engaged our third-party contractors to undertakethe completion works, and in line with the project work plan, the expected delivery and commissioning date is by the end of November 2024.
“More important is the double circuit line works which will radiate from the Ajah Transmission Station to deliver capacity to customers too. In this regard, we are also coordinating with the TCN in respect of these works to ensure that our set timeline is not negatively impacted to deliver on the objectives.
“We confirm that we have actively engaged a security outfit and have collaborated with the law enforcement agent regarding protecting assets within the corridor to deter further vandalism of distribution infrastructure.”
“This was a response to our petition. None of the promises here has been fulfilled,” Akinsete told FIJ.
He said when they visited the DisCos’ office on Monday, Nnenna Nwobodo, an EKEDC staff, said she would look into their complaints and get back to them in two weeks.
On Monday, FIJ sent an email of enquiry to EKEDC but there was no response from the DisCo at press time.
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