His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr.) Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, the Alara of Ilara Kingdom on Friday, December 20 hosted key members of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) at his palace.
The meeting aimed at addressing the prolonged electricity blackout affecting the Epe Federal Constituency.
Parties at the meeting,
sought to find sustainable solutions to the power supply issues that have engulfed the region.
Eko hot blog gathers that the IKEDC delegation, led by Business Manager Emmanuel Ibeniche, Commercial Manager Bidemi Olusanya, Security Manager Edwin Agbo, and Public Affairs Manager Fadeke Omo-Omorodionball attended the meeting.
During the meeting, they outlined the challenges hindering consistent electricity supply in Epe, particularly acts of vandalism.
During deliberations there were revelations that nine incidents of vandalism had been recorded between August and November 2024. Mrs. Fadeke Omo-Omorodion stated,
“They started by vandalizing parts of our distribution transformers, stealing copper wires, which are very expensive.
This plunged affected areas into darkness for months. Now, they have moved to cutting cables and lines, making power supply impossible.
We need the help of traditional institutions to stop these perpetrators.”
She further appealed to the people of Epe to report suspicious activities to IKEDC, saying,
“This is not just our property; it is your property. We must all work together to stop these criminal acts and ensure better power supply for everyone.”
The officials also warned against constructing structures under power lines.
“Cables or poles can fall at any time, leading to loss of life or severe injuries.
We urge everyone to avoid living or doing business under power lines,” Mr. Edwin Agbo added.
In their responses, the chiefs of the Alara Palace advised IKEDC to investigate potential internal factors contributing to the vandalism.
They also stressed the need to prioritize regular electricity supply, noting that the acts of vandalism usually occur under the cover of darkness.
However, Oba Ogunsanwo, in his remarks, called for the immediate provision of prepaid meters to residents to curb overbilling and ensure fairness.
“Electricity is crucial for development. Despite our good roads and naturally endowed environment, investors are hesitant to commit their resources where there is no regular power supply.
Prepaid meters will ensure residents pay only for what they consume.
We must also bring the vandals to book because the people of Epe Division should not continue to suffer,” he stated.
Addressing the issue of prepaid meters, Mr. Bidemi Olusanya explained,
“Residents can now request prepaid meters online at various prices. Under the Federal Government’s National Mass Metering Scheme, areas in Eredo will soon benefit, and complaints regarding bills in Ilara will also be resolved.”
He assured the Alara and the community of IKEDC’s commitment to improving electricity supply, saying,
“We are ready to work with traditional institutions and community leaders to ensure sustainable power supply and tackle these challenges head-on.”
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