Ikeja Electric throws Arowojobe community of 5000 into darkness
By Mike Adekunle
Residents of Arowojobe Estate in Lagos have been thrown into total darkness by Ikeja Electric, the energy company responsible for distribution of services into the area.
Over 5000 residents live in the vast estate which is home to the middle class. When our correspondent visited the estate this morning residents were seen lamenting their ordeal in the hands of Ikeja Electric and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, (PHCN). The company had disconnected the estate on Sunday, plunging the vast area into darkness.
One resident, Chief Olubodun Ara said the community was disconnected following a protest letter written to the Ikeja Electric office in Mende said to be notorious for charging outrageous bills to the discontentment of consumers.
Mr Ara who lives in a 3-bedroom flat told Irohinoodua “They disconnected our light and threw the entire community into darkness. It was a deliberate evil plan. They have been bringing arbitrary bills for the past years. We have accepted it in good faith. But suddenly, they increased some of the bills by between 200 to 400 percent. This is coupled with the fact that efforts to secure pre-paid meters have been rebuffed.”
Another source said the residents had mandated the Executive Council of the residents association to write a letter to the Ikeja Electric. He said on receiving the letter the officials decided to disconnect the over 5000 residents.
He said “We are dealing with a company that has no respect for consumers of what it produces. This behavior is below global standards. Here at Arowojobe we contribute between 30 to 40 million naira monthly to the purse of Ikeja Electric and PHCN. It is normal for consumers to complain when they feel cheated. In this case, the residents are being punished for behaving in a civilized and democratic manner. We have chosen not to behave like others that attack Ikeja Electric officials, but they have chosen to respond in the most unprofessional way.”
Meanwhile the Save Lagos Group have chosen the first week of June this year to picket the offices of Ikeja Electric over what it termed “official extortion and victimization of consumers.” The group last week launched an intensive pamphleteering campaign aimed at mobilising mass support towards the rally.
An official of the group, Abayomi Anifowose told our correspondent “We are going to set the standard for good corporate governance. The Ikeja Electric is contemptuous of all the consumers. What we see daily are extortion and humiliation of the consumers.This has to stop. They have failed to supply electricity adequately yet they bring outrageous bills to consumers. This has to stop.”