Aggrieved customer bemoans IKEDC’s poor quality service

By Peter Anosike

Chairman of Ago Phase 2 United Forum,Okota road Lagos, Prince Nixon Okwara, has decried the epileptic power supply to customers by the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), stressing the need for the Federal Government to review the operating licence of  the distribution company.
Speaking in an interview with Sunday Sun, Prince Okwara alleged that the electric distribution company had exhibited gross incompetence and dereliction following its inability to provide stable electricity in the Ago Phase 2 and the other communities around it.
However, when  contacted, the Ikeja Electric’s Head, Corporate Communications, Mr Felix Ofulue, said that he was not aware of the real situation.
He attributed the abysmal performance of the distribution company to its lack of capacity and corruption, among other vices.
According him, before the coming of the company, the area had enjoyed regular electricity supply and prompt repair of faults as against the current situation where the residents were left for weeks without power supply
His words: “There is absolute lack of capacity both financially and technically within Ikeja Electric to effectively manage power supply in the areas assigned to it, especially the Oshodi-Isolo Business Unit. This company appears either overwhelmed by the task or simply incapable of covering the entire area .The result, therefore, is frequent power outage and failures to meet the basic electricity needs of the community.”
On the issue of corruption, he noted that corruption was deeply rooted in the company, blaming the extortion of customers on estimated bills, making it difficult for them to pay exorbitant for services never rendered.
He said that despite numerous complaints to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and other bodies, the power supply had yet to improve.
“The power supply in areas like Ago Phase 2 is abysmal. Despite being categorized under Band B, which should ensure a reasonable supply or 16 hours power supply per day as we were told, residents often experiences 2 hours of electricity in a whole week. Ikeja Electric strategy seems to be providing minimal power towards the end of the month to avoid disconnection, therefore coercing the people into paying exorbitant bills. They have promised to fix certain breakers for over five years but have failed to do so ,as the current system of extortion is highly profitable for them.” He said.
According to him, the Ago Phase 2 residents and other communities in the area have suffered untold hardship due to the perennial power outages, adding that they have been petitioning for over five years without any resolution.
“We have reported our grievances to the Lagos State House of Assembly, NERC, and other regulatory bodies but there has been no significant change. The infrastructure in these areas is largely self-funded by the residents who are also pressured to finance repairs. The communities are often told that they can either wait indefinitely or pay officials to fix faults, sometimes running into millions,” he lamented.