Lagos Assembly To Intervene As Community Experiences 7-Year Darkness

The Lagos State House of Assembly is set to constitute an Adhoc Committee to engage the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, IKEDC, following complaints that Gbopa Community of Ikorodu has been in darkness for seven years.

While raising the issue under ‘Matters of Urgent Public Importance’, Hon. Moshood Aro noted that Gbopa and Egbin have been fighting over ownership of land.

He accused Egbin Power Plant of liaising with IKEDC to disrupt electricity supply to Gbopa community since then.

“This has affected the livelihood of the residents and crumbled the economic activities in the area,” he lamented.

Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, in his contribution, said: “It is bad enough that they don’t have power, but from 2016 till today it’s seven years and as a business organisation, you should be concerned that your customers don’t have power. To me, that is callous and wicked. It is a government policy for citizens to have social and economic rights.

“My colleague has come here to make a request and if it is possible, a committee can be set up to look into it.”

On his part, Hon. Ogundipe said: “I am concerned about this issue and as of today every community is facing one issue or the other about IKEDC.

“I know power has been delegated to them, but they behave as if they can do and undo. Communities are being enforced to pay for cables, transformers and it is high time to call IKEDC to find out what their position is.”

Hon. Abiodun Tobun, in his contribution, sympathised with the community for being in darkness for so long. “We appreciate Hon. Aro Moshood, who is able to put this before us.

“It is unfortunate that IKEDC has taken powers into their hands that the community is in darkness for seven years.

“IKEDC doesn’t have land anywhere unless it is given to them by the government, I concur with my colleagues,” he said.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said: “It is not something we can take a position on immediately. It is a painful thing denying the community for seven years. It is totally unacceptable.

“I agree that a committee should be set up on the matter. Beyond that, we have realised that there are situations, where a leased tenant moves away from a property and the bill accumulated would be put on a new tenant, this matter should also be looked into too.

“We must address these issues once and for all. We will set up a committee to look into it and engage the IKEDC so that we can get to the root of the matter and find a lasting solution to it. Prepaid metre is still the solution; if you pay, you get power and if you don’t pay, you will not get it.”