• Residents sends SOS to Sanwo-Olu
By Christopher Oji
Residents of Lucas and other adjunig streets, off Kay Farms, Obawole EState, Iju,Lagos, have called on Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to prevail on the management of Ikeja Electricity Distribution company to restore electricity in the area.
The residents, who fear possible epidemic as people are deficating on roadsides and gutters since there is no electricity to pump water to flush toilets and take their bathe, want the Governor to declare a state of emergency on the area .
The residents, who spoke with our Correspondent, said that they have been going through hell since two months that Thunder and lightening spoilt the transformer that was serving the area and Ikeja Electricity took away the transformer for repairs and are yet to do any repairs on it.
A resident, Michael Agba, told our Correspondent that,” it is sad that in Lagos, a centre of excellence , people are still facing challenges and non of our political leaders and representative, including Councillors, Local Government chairmen, House of Assembly members and the State Government can intervene.
What is the essence of voting people into power if not to bring in deviden of democracy to the grassroots.Again we are still baffled that in our community where house use prepaid metre, the electricity management company that is losing millions is not even bothered since the two months that our transformer spoiled.
“our predicament started two months ago , during a downpour; thunder and lightening were experienced and our lights went off. We contacted power distribution company which sent some workers to examine what was wrong. The workers who visited took the transformer away and promised to give us a small one for temporary use. The small one has been dumped on the street,but nothing has been done to distribute electricity. We have been visiting Ikeja Electricity, but they kept on assuring us that they would do something,but nothing is being done.
“We have decided to bring our complaints to our Governor since political leaders and office holders have refused to do something drastic about our plight. We are crying to our Governor, to declare a state of emergency on electricity on Lucas Street and other streets in Iju.The heat is too much,so people are using generator to power their house, this is causing serious health hazards. The Carbone monoxide is affecting the people, especially the elderly and children. The worst is that while the world is seriously campaigning against open dedication, this is happening on Lucas Street and other adjunig streets as those who have no generating sets or cannot afford to buy fuel to power their generating sets, have no choice than to dedicate on the roadside,gutters and canal. This is causing serious health hazards that the government should wade in and prevail on Ikeja Electricity Distribution company to do something urgent about our plight. The noise pollution is killing .
“We also appeal to the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA ), to come to our aide. We are facing serious disaster. We need water, medication and even relief material. We can’t preserve our foods, so we waste money cooking everyday. Some of us who buy fuel spend an average of N3,000 everyday. Most of us who have shops have closed for business as we cannot afford the high cost of fuel. Infact, NEMA should pay emergency visit to Lucas Street . If there is a way the Authority can provide us with portable water, it can save many people. At least some of us cannot afford serchet water, because we were drinking from our boreholes,but there is no more electricity to power our boreholes.
“We have appealed to the Government to wade into the crisis looming in our area. We don’t want to take laws into our hands, but there is a limit to ones endurance. We have been patient enough. We need electricity to power our boreholes,to run our small scale businesses, including salon, shops where we sell cold drinks. Many of us have closed shops. A hungry man is a hungry person.Please, come to our rescue “.
A visit to Lucas Street showed that the residents are really facing serious crisis as they were seen outside because of excessive heat. Everybody looked frustrated, complaining about the suffering they were going through.