By Lamidi Bamidele

The joy that greeted the February 21, 2013 signing of the Share Sale Agreements and Concession Agreements between the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the 14 preferred bidders for 15 of the 17 companies created out of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, has since faded in most parts of the country. Indeed it has been complaints galore by consumers/subscribers across the country.

Placard-carrying residents during the protest

This was the case when residents of the central zone of Magodo Residents Association recently staged a peaceful protest within their zone to show their displeasure with Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company IKEDC on the incessant power failure being witnessed in the area.

This, according to the residents, was as a result of the visibly old transformer which was often overloaded and could not distribute the power transmitted to it, thereby leading to load-shedding.

The angry protesters were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions urging IKEDC to wake up to its responsibilities, especially that of providing service(power supply) for which payment is being made.

Benjamin Olamijulo, an engineer and Vice Chairman, Central Zone of Magodo Residents Association, said the IKEDC has not been fair to them, adding: “They only come here to collect money without any improvement of any sort. A businessman that has taken a concessionaire agreement has to invest and improve on the existing facilities and manage his customers”.

He said further: “Several letters have been written by the central zone to the Managing Director of Ikeja DISCO, Mr Abiodun Ajifowobaje to provide a transformer to the zone without response”.

The chairman of Magboro Residents Association, Kunle Fashogbon, in a telephone conversation, said the transformers in Magodo are overloaded. “We have sent two different delegations to IKEDC and their responses have always been that they cannot give what they don’t have.

Central zone, was bitter at the fact that the IKEDC had ignored all entreaties to improve power supply service to the area in spite various self-efforts by residents. According to him: “The current transformer being used was paid for through contributions by the residents. This included the cables, the poles and all other materials which automatically become the property of IKEDC and we still pay exorbitantly whether there is electricity supply or not”.

Mr Odu further emphasised the need for IKEDC to respond to their request urgently by supplying a transformer to the area to curb load-shedding as the residents of the zone are known for their prompt payment of electricity bills. Attempts to speak with Mr. Ajifowobaje were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off.