On Tuesday, members of the advocacy group Take Back FESTAC marched to EKEDC's headquarters in Marina, Lagos, expressing their frustrations after numerous engagements with the company yielded no results. Despite promises of improvement post a transmission project, residents remain in darkness.
Comrade Valentine Uduebor, President and Convener of Take Back FESTAC, articulated the collective despair of the community. “This protest is not about me; it is about the frustration of my people. We have suffered enough,” he stated. Uduebor highlighted the absurdity of businesses being billed for electricity they are not consuming, questioning how EKEDC sustains its operations under these conditions.
The residents had previously accepted EKEDC's plea for patience, with a commitment of improved service within five months. “Those five months have come and gone, yet our people remain in darkness,” Uduebor noted, warning that if electricity is not restored within the specified timeframe, the community would not be accountable for any ensuing disturbances.
Chief James Ibeka, the group's Vice President, echoed the urgency of the situation, stating that the residents' decision to protest at EKEDC's headquarters signals the collapse of the power supply in FESTAC. “Sometimes we go for three months without more than two hours of electricity,” he lamented, emphasizing the resultant economic strain on households.
Families are reportedly spending exorbitant amounts on fuel for generators, with some paying as much as ₦10,000 daily to maintain basic power. “Our children can hardly sleep at night because there is no electricity,” lamented Ibeka.
Public Relations Officer Nathaniel Ussi called for faster distribution of prepaid meters to alleviate issues related to estimated billing. “Most businesses have closed because there is no electricity. All we are asking for is constant electricity,” he urged.
Healthcare delivery has also been adversely affected. Dr. Dumebi Owa, a local medical practitioner, described the prolonged blackout as a critical threat to patient care and business sustainability. “Imagine carrying out surgery and the power suddenly goes off. It is dangerous and unacceptable,” she expressed.
One protester, identifying himself as Michael, criticized the arbitrary billing practices faced by those without prepaid meters, noting that bills continue to accumulate regardless of electricity supply. “If we have prepaid meters, we will pay for what we consume, and many of these complaints will disappear,” he asserted.
During the protest, a small delegation of residents was invited to meet EKEDC management, although no immediate response from the company was available by the end of the demonstration.
The residents' concerns reflect a broader issue of power supply reliability in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for urgent action to restore electricity and revitalize local economies.
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