Consumers protest against poor power supply at airport

RESIDENTS in communities around the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, have protested against the erratic power supply to their area by the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC), Limited.

The protest, carried out under the auspices of Ajamogun Onokotun Community Development Association (AOCDA), was to express disenchantment over prolonged power outage, which has ruined business operations in the area.

The community leader as well as some managers of logistics companies, cargo companies, travel agencies and other ancillary services outfits around the Airport said the incessant power supply is badly affecting their businesses and lives.

They said if IKEDC does not fix the problem, youths in the area, who run small scale businesses such as barbing salons, cyber cafés and business centres might be compelled to take to crime to survive.

The chairman of the community association, Wale Akinyemi, in an interview, said that four streets in the Ewutuntun, Beesam and Mafoluku area of Oshodi Local Development Area (LCDA) have been living in perpetual darkness.

He said the power supply situation in the area has worsened despite attempts by officials of Ikeja Electric Company to fix the problem. He said except a new transformer is brought to the area to replace the ailing one that was installed in 1980, otherwise the problem would persist.

While saying that the community has visited the managing director of IKEDC to draw his attention to the situation, Akinyemi said they were getting worried because it has taken much effort to restrain the youths in the area from taking the laws into their hands to violently protest the situation.

“We would continue to prevail on them for understanding hoping that the matter would be addressed urgently to forestall any untoward action from them.

“We have been living without light now for almost 30 days while adjoining communities are enjoying power supply. The consequences of this power failure can only be imagined as it has adversely affected us and families in many ways.”

Another cause of great concern, according to him, is the low and high tension service cables in the area that are dangling dangerously across the streets with its attendant threat to lives and property.

“We are hoping that our appeal would be given urgent attention to save the deteriorating situation,” he said. In his reaction, the head of communication and strategy of IKEDC, Ayeni Akinola, who spoke on behalf of the managing director and promised to look into their complaints, said the company would seek solutions to the problem.