Again, power supply tragedy from Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company struck at Ebute GRA/Ibeshe axis of Ikorodu on Saturday, March 30, destroying equipment and household gadgets of consumers worth millions of naira.
Residents of this axis, who were enjoying their Saturday morning chores, were rudely shocked as they heard explosions in their homes at about 9a.m, sparking off smokes from sockets. White bulbs blew up and electronic gadgets such as TVs radios, home theatres etc, packed up following an unusual power surge in the area.
Angry residents of Alogba Estate, Ibeshe road, and other parts of GRA immediately reacted and called officials of PHCN to lodge their complaints, only to wait hours without any solution.
The tragic experience, which cut across many streets and locations in that axis, burnt water pumping machines, electrical gadgets, phones and chargers and other equipment, sparking off ugly reactions as residents instantly began to demand for compensation from PHCN for the damages.
This reporter lost almost all the functional gadgets and electronics in operation at the time of this explosion. It took officials of PHCN two hours before they responded to the distress calls from the affected consumers in this area. Whereas, it takes these same officials less than few minutes to climb poles to disconnect power supplies to homes.
Though, some PHCN officials promised to fix the fault, the residents were without power supply for almost one week, triggering protests here and there and petitions to the authorities from the high profile dwellers in that axis, some of who threatened to sue Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company.
Mr. Odulesi, a resident along that axis, told Oriwu Sun that he was still wondering why IKEDC was finding it difficult to find a solution to the issue of high tension wires and incessant power disruptions in their area of operation.
He recalled the case reported recently by Punch Newspaper and Oriwu Sun concerning the electrocution of one lady by high tension wire and lamented that till now, IKEDC has not compensated the family of the late victim.
Another resident of the area questioned why distribution of bills, collection of monies and disconnection of power supply are quick to handle by IKEDC official but routine maintenances and regular supply of power are difficult for the company to handle.
A PHCN Official, who spoke to Oriwu Sun in anominity, said it will take a pretty long time in the future for things to improve in this sector because, according to him, the owners of these distribution companies are powerful people in government, who do not want to invest in infrastructural development of that sector but are quick to continue to force government to inject money into the operations because they are only interested in profit making and what goes into their pockets. He said if the cankerworm is opened, Nigerians will be shocked beyond imaginations.
According to him, this is why government treats the power sector issue softly but until something tough takes place, Nigerians will continue to suffer for long.
In Federal Low Cost Housing Estate Area, a resident complained that he reported a case of high tension wire that was a threat, yet, IKEDC officials did nothing until a shouting match between a journalist and electricity workers took place before the fault was addressed.
Residents of this Estate and other parts of Ikorodu, notably Odogunyan axis, still complain about refusal of IKEDC to distribute prepaid meters because of the general knowledge that they prefer estimated billing that extorts Nigerian consumers.
Mr. D. A. Adebayo, a resident of Rofo Estate, also complained that since the day of PHCN down to IKEDC, no new infrastructure or equipment such as transformers have been injected into the environment by the present regime.