Pascal Oparada
Threeall on the fringes of Lagos State, have cried out over what they say is a cruel the treatment meted out to them by men of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC).
Three communities of Enilolobo, Obanla and Ajibose, all on the fringes of Lagos State, have cried out over what they say is a cruel the treatment meted out to them by men of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC).
The residents say they have been thrown into darkness for the past four weeks because Ikeja Electric disconnected them from the transformers feeding the areas.
According to them, they have been in a face-off with electricity distribution company over their demands for the provision of prepaid meters; replacement of damaged, fallen and worn-out electrical cables, which continue to endanger the lives of the residents of the areas.
“The cables are so bad that they almost killed a schoolgirl when it fell on her way to school. Apart from the dangers posed to residents by the obsolete cables, the cables are disjointed and continue to fall incessantly, Balogun Ismail, chairman of the youth association of the areas said.
The residents also alleged that the Sales representative of IKEDC in the area, Joseph Aderibigbe, engages in underhand dealings and extortion.
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“He will come to a house which uses a meter and accuse the occupants of bypassing the meter and he will then demand they pay heavy fines which are usually sent to his personal bank account or a proxy bank account that he chooses,” a resident told The Nigerian Xpress reporter.
The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue said in a WhatsApp message that it is not possible for the staff of the company to disconnect consumers based on the issues they raised.
“I suggest you look into the details properly. If there are disconnection issues, it is definitely not because they are requesting for meters. That is not possible,” Ofulue said.
He, however, asked that the residents furnish him with the names of the affected areas so he can properly assess the situation.
The residents had in a series of letters, which was seen by our reporter, demanded that the company addresses the issues they raised and that any electricity bill bearing the name of the Sales Representative, Joseph Aderibigbe, will not be honoured.
A staffer of the company who asked for anonymity said they had orders to shut down the transformers feeding the areas because the communities were obstinate and have refused to pay their electricity bills.
“Apart from not paying, they have threatened our staff on several occasions when they go out to carry out their legitimate duties,” he said.
But a resident of the communities told the reporter that at no time did they threaten or physically assault any staffer of IKEDC.
“We have not threatened them in any way. All we asked is that since they have refused to oblige us with our demands, which they agreed to in several meetings we held with them, we cannot continue to pay our bills when these issues remain unresolved,” Clement Ije said.
The residents say they have been thrown into darkness for the past four weeks because Ikeja Electric disconnected them from the transformers feeding the areas.
According to them, they have been in a face-off with electricity distribution company over their demands for the provision of prepaid meters; replacement of damaged, fallen and worn-out electrical cables, which continue to endanger the lives of the residents of the areas.
The cables are so bad that they almost killed a schoolgirl when it fell on her way to school. Apart from the dangers posed to residents by the obsolete cables, the cables are disjointed and continue to fall incessantly, Balogun Ismail, chairman of the youth association of the areas said.
The residents also alleged that the Sales representative of IKEDC in the area, Joseph Aderibigbe, engages in underhand dealings and extortion.
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“He will come to a house which uses a meter and accuse the occupants of bypassing the meter and he will then demand they pay heavy fines which are usually sent to his personal bank account or a proxy bank account that he chooses,” a resident told The Nigerian Xpress reporter.
The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue said in a WhatsApp message that it is not possible for the staff of the company to disconnect consumers based on the issues they raised.
“I suggest you look into the details properly. If there are disconnection issues, it is definitely not because they are requesting for meters. That is not possible,” Ofulue said.
He, however, asked that the residents furnish him with the names of the affected areas so he can properly assess the situation.
The residents had in a series of letters, which was seen by our reporter, demanded that the company addresses the issues they raised and that any electricity bill bearing the name of the Sales Representative, Joseph Aderibigbe, will not be honoured.
A staffer of the company who asked for anonymity said they had orders to shut down the transformers feeding the areas because the communities were obstinate and have refused to pay their electricity bills.
“Apart from not paying, they have threatened our staff on several occasions when they go out to carry out their legitimate duties,” he said.
But a resident of the communities told the reporter that at no time did they threaten or physically assault any staffer of IKEDC.
“We have not threatened them in any way. All we asked is that since they have refused to oblige us with our demands, which they agreed to in several meetings we held with them, we cannot continue to pay our bills when these issues remain unresolved,” Clement Ije said.