Black Xmas awaits Olaiya Street residents
By Edith Igbokwe
Unless the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company comes to their rescue by replacing them, not less than 82 households on Olaiya Street of Mafoluku, Oshodi may celebrate their Christmas in total darkness because the cables to their transformer were stolen.
Though the community apprehended one of the thieves who carted away the cables and handled him to the police for investigation, the company is, allegedly, insisting that power would not be restored in the community until every customer pays up their bills till October, 2020.
The community has already lived in darkness for a month, waiting for the restoration of power.
Speaking to ECHONEWS over the issue, the treasurer of Agbelekale/Olaiya Community Development Association (CDA), Mr. Samuel Adegboyega, said the community members have been complying with the payment order, saying every customer on the street have paid their September bills except that of October which was affected by the Endsars protest.
He explained: “As we got hold of the hoodlum known as Malik who stole the cables, we handed him over to the Ikeja electric (Ie) at Ajao Estate Isolo and he was subsequently taken to Ikeja police at Area F for further investigations.
“As an offender who has vandalised government property, we leave him to face the justice while we battle with how to restore power supply to the community.”
Adegboyega said though Ikeja Electric appreciated the community’s effort in apprehending the robber, it insisted that the residents should pay the latest electricity bill of October before the restoration of power supply to the community could be done.
Meanwhile, the community has pointed out several other complaints which need be addressed by the company to avoid the constant break down of the transformer.
These include high tension wires hanging loosely on the poles, a rickety transformer that breaks down often, weak poles that are not strong enough to hold cables.
Responding, the Head of Corporate Communication, Ikeja Electric, Felix Ofulue, told Echonews that the company would fix all the identified challenges and restore power into the community once the owing customers pay up their debts.
