Akoka Residents Protest Poor Electricity Supply Despite Band A Classification
Residents of Akoka, Lagos State, have expressed frustration over poor electricity supply, claiming they receive only two hours of power daily despite being migrated to Band A. On Tuesday, the aggrieved residents staged a peaceful protest, calling on the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) to address the situation urgently.
Holding placards with inscriptions such as “Akoka is totally neglected. Our business is dying daily. Save our souls in Akoka,” the protesters lamented the negative impact of the erratic power supply on their livelihoods and community.
One of the protesters, speaking on behalf of the residents, described their plight:
“Yes, we have agreed that we have been moved to Band A. We paid for Band A, but we do not have light. We went from having a constant power supply to barely two hours daily. It is affecting our businesses. It is affecting our environment. Everywhere is polluted and no longer comfortable.”
She further noted that repeated visits to the nearest IKEDC office had yielded no results, leaving the community with no choice but to take to the streets to make their grievances known.
Akoka residents highlighted the disparity between the service expected under Band A—where customers are entitled to at least 20 hours of electricity daily—and the reality they face.
“We are pleading to Ikeja Electric and the appropriate authorities to listen to our cries and save our community. Akoka has always been a good community, and we want it to remain like this,” the spokesperson added.
As of the time of this report, the spokesperson for Ikeja Electric, Kingsley Okotie, had not responded to requests for comment.
The protest underscores the growing tension between electricity distribution companies and consumers in Nigeria, particularly in communities where service delivery falls far short of expectations despite tariff payments. Residents are now calling on IKEDC and regulatory authorities to address the situation and restore reliable power supply to the Akoka community.
