Residents of Lekki Phase 1 in Lagos have been plunged into darkness for nearly two weeks after a transformer explosion, leaving households and businesses struggling without electricity. The prolonged outage has sparked frustration and accusations of negligence against the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), which residents say has failed to provide timely information or a clear repair timeline.
Transformer Explosion Leaves Homes Without Power
The blackout began when a transformer along Alhaji Hakeem Odumosu Street blew up with a loud bang, throwing several homes into darkness. The faulty transformer has remained abandoned, with no visible repair work despite repeated promises from EKEDC officials. Residents say the lack of communication has compounded their misery, as they are left guessing when power will be restored.
One affected resident, Mr Taiwo Bolodeoku, described the situation as both shocking and disappointing. He noted that the transformer services his home and several other houses in the area, yet no information or apology has been issued.
“It has been almost two weeks now since a transformer blew up with a loud bang. The transformer services our home and quite a number of other houses in the area. No information has been given, no apology has been sent out, and we wonder what is going on as we continue to wait endlessly,” Bolodeoku said.
Residents Bear Heavy Costs and Losses
The blackout has forced many residents to rely on generators, increasing their daily spending on petrol at a time when fuel prices remain high. Some have lost perishable food items stored in refrigerators, while others working remotely face severe disruptions.
Mrs Margaret Sogbesan, another resident, expressed frustration over the lack of progress despite multiple complaints. She said residents have spoken to various officials, received assurances, but nothing has changed.
“The system is somehow. We have spoken to everyone that needs to be spoken to; they have given updates and made promises to restore power, but here we are, still without a solution. So, it is really frustrating,” Sogbesan lamented.
Mr David Nezaya, who works from home, said the outage has made his life extremely difficult, forcing him to power his generator for hours daily. He appealed to EKEDC to restore electricity to enable residents to live comfortably, noting that the high cost of petrol compounds the problem.
“I work from home, and it is so terrible that I have to power my generator for hours. It is very frustrating. We appeal to EKEDC to do the needful and restore our electricity to enable us to live comfortably. It is bad enough that the price of petrol is high, yet there is no electricity to cushion the effect of having to buy petrol almost daily just to survive,” Nezaya said.
Businesses and Daily Life Disrupted
The outage has also disrupted businesses in the area. Ms Efe Obiomah said she had no choice but to switch off her refrigerator because of the prolonged blackout, leading to spoilage of food items. She described the situation as terrible and uncomfortable, appealing to electricity managers to restore power.
Residents have called on EKEDC to prioritize the repair of the faulty transformer, emphasizing that the prolonged darkness is affecting their quality of life and economic activities.
EKEDC Promises Repairs, But Residents Skeptical
Reacting to the complaints, an EKEDC official, Mr Adeyemi Razaq, said efforts were underway to fix the transformer. According to him, workers had already requested the materials needed for repairs, and the company's head office had approved the request. However, the materials had not yet been released.
“Hopefully, I am promising next week. The materials may arrive on Monday. Hopefully, by Tuesday, they will come and carry out the job, before Wednesday or Thursday next week,” Razaq said.
While residents hope this latest promise brings an end to their ordeal, many remain skeptical given the lack of action so far. Power outages caused by faulty transformers are a recurring issue in many parts of Lagos, with residents often relying on expensive generators while waiting for repairs.
For the affected Lekki residents, the wait continues, and they hope EKEDC will finally deliver on its commitment to restore electricity.
