Residents of E Close on 34 Road, Gowon Estate, Egbeda, in Lagos State, have staged a protest at the Ikeja Electric undertaking office in Ponle, demanding the immediate restoration of electricity to their community.
The protesters, mostly women, insisted they would remain at the office until power supply is restored, accusing officials of the Akowonjo Business Unit of Ikeja Electric of deliberately plunging the area into darkness.
A resident, Barrister Mathew Uzokwu, alleged that officials of the power distribution company were attempting to connect a nearby Duplex Community and Church Village, alongside three heavy equipment manufacturing companies, to a transformer without prepaid metering, a move he claimed encourages estimated billing.
He further alleged that the transformer serving the duplex community had developed faults which the distribution company had refused to repair, instead leaving residents to fund repairs through communal contributions.
Mr. Uzokwu said tensions escalated after residents opposed plans to reroute power supply, alleging that their community was disconnected from electricity on February 6, 2026.
He added that similar incidents had occurred in the past, claiming the distribution company often neglected faulty transformers serving the area.
The residents have called on the Minister of Power and other relevant authorities to intervene and compel the electricity distribution company to restore supply, warning that continued blackout could heighten tensions within the community.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen