Residents of Akoka, a neighborhood in Lagos State, are expressing their frustration over the lack of electricity in their area. They say that even though they have been classified as “Band A” customers—meaning they are supposed to receive a high level of service—they are only getting about two hours of electricity each day.
On Tuesday, a group of these residents took to the streets to protest this situation. They held up signs that read messages like, “Akoka is totally neglected. Our business is dying daily. Save our souls in Akoka.” The protest was aimed at the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), which they believe needs to take action to improve their electricity supply.
In a video shared with reporters, one protester explained that the residents have tried many times to reach out to the local IKEDC office for help, but their efforts have not been successful. She pointed out that while they are paying for the Band A service, they are not receiving the electricity they are entitled to. “We went from having a constant power supply to barely having a two-hour supply daily. It is affecting our businesses. It is affecting our environment. Everywhere is polluted. Everywhere is no longer comfortable,” she said.
The protest was meant to peacefully show their discomfort and dissatisfaction with the current situation. The residents are asking IKEDC and other relevant authorities to pay attention to their plight and help improve the conditions in their community. They want Akoka to remain a good place to live, as it has been in the past.
As of the time of the report, a spokesperson for Ikeja Electric, Kingsley Okotie, had not responded to requests for comments about the residents’ concerns. It’s important to note that customers categorized as Band A are expected to receive at least 20 hours of electricity supply each day, which makes the residents’ situation even more frustrating.
