Lagos community Seeks SERAP’s Intervention on IKEDC Estimated Billing, gov neglect, others

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

As there seems to be no reprieve in sight over the alleged unbearable estimated billing, on electricity supplied by the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company PLC, to residents of Irebami Unity, Community Development Association (CDA) of Ikotun, Lagos State ,a Save our Soul (SoS) message has gone to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

The community has called on the rights group to bring the attention of the service provider IKEDC and the state government on these issues of extortion and neglect.

The community leaders have also expressed dissatisfaction over the service provider’s indiscriminate disconnection of residents of the area.

The community leaders went further to seek support of SERAP to draw the attention of the Lagos State Government on the need to extend infrastructural development to the area that has continued to suffer neglect since the return of democratic rule in 1999.

Deplorable state of roads in the area

In a release made available to Nation Update Monday signed by the CDA Chairman, Prince Abiola Noah Odunsi, that despite high and unbearable electricity bills to them in the last four months, supply has been epileptic and often resulted to power surge that has continued to cause damages to electrical and electronic appliances of residents.

Odunsi recounted immense regrets and anger of the residents, he stated, “having collectively resolved not to permit the indiscriminate, illegal disconnection of electricity and extortion by the Ikeja Electric PLC officials in our community, the residents can no longer cope with the overbearing pressure of the crazy and fraudulent estimated billings system.”

The Chairman therefore called on the federal government to match her words with action on distribution and installation of prepaid metres for free to thier community as had been announced.

He noted that the crazy billings from the service provider has become a serious thorn on their flesh.

Residents he said have continued to count their losses in the area of preserved food stuffs worth billions that has got spoilt in the recent time on account of irregular and epileptic power supply.

To this Odunsi cried: “How long shall we continue to pay crazy bills for darkness and electricity not consumed , and also the cost of massive damages of electronic and electrical appliances caused by power surge?

“The past weeks had been traumatizing, as the entire community was put in complete darkness for no tangible reason and as such refrigerated and frozen food of our residents got spoilt in great quantity, even when we are all aware ,how costly food items are at this critical time.”

He stressed that “We request for the immediate distribution of the federal government’s approved free prepaid meter across our community, and to all registered consumers and also our demands so stated in our “5for5 points demands” to the Governor,” he stated.