Residents of Lekki Conservation Estate in Lagos State took to the streets on Saturday to protest what they described as a persistent lack of reliable electricity, a situation they say has disrupted families and crippled businesses.
Despite assurances from the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) that recent upgrades would address the issue, residents remain frustrated over years of epileptic power supply.
Organized under the Lekki Conservation Estates Development Association (LCEDA), which represents the Orchid Road and surrounding areas, residents expressed their grievances after enduring unreliable power for over three years.
According to LCEDA President Osas Aire, the area, comprising about 200 estates with over 5,000 homes and businesses, has been neglected despite continuous engagement with EKEDC and other authorities.
Speaking after the protest, Aire revealed that discussions with EKEDC since 2020 have yielded no significant improvement.
He highlighted how the Federal Government's "willing-buyer-willing-seller" initiative initially provided hope but was later dismantled, exacerbating the area's electricity woes.
Aire lamented that the situation has left the community with minimal power supply, often less than two hours daily, despite being moved from Band A to Band B services.
He appealed to the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), the Lagos State Government, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and EKEDC to provide a permanent solution, such as a dedicated line to address the chronic power shortages.
The Vice President of LCEDA, Bode Akinwande, urged EKEDC to energize a recently installed transformer to alleviate the situation.
Similarly, the Chairman of Cooplag Gardens Estate Resident Association, Oloso Saheed, criticized EKEDC for poor service, citing frequent outages and damaging voltage fluctuations that have forced residents to relocate to areas with better electricity stability.
Responding to the outcry, EKEDC's General Manager of Corporate Communications, Babatunde Lasaki, stated that improvements are underway following the recent installation of a 1×60/75 MVA 132/33KV power transformer by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
Completed on December 19, the upgrade increased the capacity of the Lekki Transmission Substation from 120MVA to 195MVA.
According to Lasaki, the enhancement will allow EKEDC to distribute a larger volume of bulk power, resulting in reduced outages, improved voltage stability, and better service for residents and businesses in the Lekki axis.
He expressed optimism that the upgrade, part of a broader modernization effort funded by the World Bank, would address the electricity demands of Lagos communities and support economic growth.
Residents, however, remain skeptical, insisting on immediate and tangible improvements. As they await action, the protests highlight the growing tension between utility companies and their customers in the face of Nigeria’s longstanding power challenges.