Residents and business owners in parts of Lagos have decried persistent poor electricity supply, blaming the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company for worsening living conditions and rising business costs.
Speaking in separate interviews Wednesday, residents of Igando, Isheri, Idimu, Ikotun and neighboring communities said erratic power supply has disrupted daily life and strained livelihoods.
Abosede Akitan, a resident of Idimu, said electricity is rarely available during the day and, when restored, lasts only briefly.
“This has been our reality in recent weeks. There is hardly any power supply, and when it comes, it does not last up to a minute,” she said.
Residents also expressed concern over increased insecurity, saying prolonged darkness has made some streets more vulnerable to crime.
A community leader, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the lack of electricity has emboldened criminals.
“When there is no light, everywhere is dark, and that is when thieves operate freely,” the leader said.
Yusuf Ayoola, another resident, said cases of theft and burglary have increased since the power situation deteriorated.
Business owners said unreliable electricity has significantly raised operating costs and affected productivity.
Felicia Adeyemi, a shop owner on Governor’s Road, described the situation as crippling for small businesses.
“We spend more on fuel than the profit we make,” she said.
A welder in Ikotun, who identified himself as Sunday, said the lack of power has forced artisans to scale down operations.
“My work depends on electricity. Running a generator daily is too expensive,” he said.
In Isheri, restaurant operator Kemi Ayorinde said she now relies heavily on generators to preserve food and serve customers.
“We can no longer depend on public power supply. We buy fuel daily, and it is affecting our business,” she said, adding that prepaid meter users still receive little or no supply despite regular payments.
Contacted for comment, Kingsley Okotie, spokesperson for Ikeja Electric, attributed the situation to a drop in power generation.
He said gas supply constraints affecting generation plants have led to load shedding, adding that efforts are underway to address the issue and urging customers to be patient.
