Epe, Ikeja Electric Join Forces Against Vandalism
Atume Terfa
After months of frustrating blackouts caused by vandalised power assets, Ikeja Electric has joined forces with community leaders in Epe to protect infrastructure and deliver an uninterrupted electricity supply.
Residents of Epe, Eredo, and Ikosi-Ejirin LCDA have endured repeated outages following the destruction of the Agbowa feeder, a lifeline for the Epe substation. Transformers and power lines were also targeted, cutting communities off until urgent repairs were made.
Ikeja Electric described vandalism and energy theft as some of its biggest challenges to delivering reliable service. Officials warned that without strong local collaboration, such incidents could continue to undermine progress.
In response, the Lagos State Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources convened stakeholders to chart a way forward. Traditional rulers, local government chairpersons, lawmakers, and religious leaders pledged to safeguard power facilities.
Key figures in attendance included Hon. Abiodun Tobun (Epe Constituency), Engr. Abiola Olowu (Special Adviser, Mineral Resources), Princess Surah Olayemi Animashaun (Chairman, Epe LGA), alongside Ikeja Electric executives from its Ikorodu Division.
The Lagos State Government confirmed that vandalised portions of the Agbowa feeder have now been replaced, restoring electricity to the Epe substation. Officials, however, cautioned that sustaining supply depends on communities taking ownership of protecting installations.
Residents are being asked to:
Stay vigilant and report suspicious activity around power lines and substations.
Treat infrastructure as community property to be defended, not exploited.
Leverage reporting channels — including whistle-blower platforms — to flag threats anonymously.
Bigger Picture
The partnership is being hailed as a blueprint for utility-community cooperation, one that could save billions lost to infrastructure damage and theft. Backed by the Lagos Electricity Law 2024, the initiative also underscores the government’s resolve to prosecute vandals and meter tamperers.
For Epe, the message is clear: protecting power is protecting progress.
