RESIDENTS of Ponle Street have reportedly complained about poor electricity supply in their area despite the fact Ikeja Electric office is situated at the tail-end of their street.
They claimed that, in sum, there is electricity for about 10 hours daily instead of at least 20 hours daily. They allege that other neighbouring streets are enjoying more power supply than they do.
Speaking with AlimoshoToday, a male resident who pleaded anonymity said: “We are living on the same street the office is located and we should enjoy electricity often, for at least 20 hours daily.
“We have been there repeatedly to complain but nothing has been done about it.”
A trader on Ponle street lamented: “A o gbadun ina (we are not enjoying power supply). As the power was brought at 10 am, they will take it when it is 1:00 pm. After then, it will be restored at 7 pm, to be taken at 10 pm. At 12:00am, it will be restored and taken at 4:00 am.
“Pepper is the representative of this street and he has been to their office repeatedly to complain about the situation of things but nothing has changed. You can help us out; they also have an office at Alaguntan.”
Efforts to reach their representative proved abortive, but other streets were visited to ascertain the condition of power supply there.
The streets visited were Fajumobi and Odebunmi Streets, Miccom, Busari Cresent and Dosu Ogundele Street.
A female shop owner on Fajumobi Street revealed to AlimoshoToday that power supply is good at her side.
She said: “We usually enjoy electricity. They will soon take it now (around 10 am). It will be restored around 2 pm and be taken around 8 pm. There will be light again all night. This light is better than Ponle Street’s light and Miccom’s. We share power with the people living in Odukoya Estate.”
Another foodstuff seller on Odebunmi street said: “Power supply here is okay. They supply us from morning till night. They bring the light from 7 am till 9 pm. They don’t take it. Even if they take it, it’s usually not for a long time. They also bring it at midnight. The light on this street is different. From here to there (her shop towards Odukoya Estate) is a different light. From here to there (her shop towards Miccom) is another light.”
A trader at Miccom said that the power supply to his end is good. He claimed there is usually 12 hours of electricity supply daily. He told AlimoshoToday in pidgin English: “It is okay because we even dey see am. What of the time wey we no see am nko? There was a time that for three days, we no go see light.”
The narrative is not quite different from that of Busari Crescent. A provision store owner divulged: “The electricity supply is not bad. They brought the light around 9 am and will take it around 3 pm. At 8 pm on the dot, they will bring it again till around 3 am or 4 am. By 9 am again, they will bring it. Before now, it was nothing to write home about.
Asking if their community leaders were instrumental to the improved condition of the power supply, he replied: “I am not sure. Maybe God changed their (Ikeja Electric) mind. God is working and they are working too. To be sincere, they are working. Any small complaint, now now now, they will do it.”
A Hausa man at Dosu Ogundele Street simply told AlimoshoToday in pidgin: “The light dey okay. Light dey now. Them go bring am at 9 am in the morning and take am by 1 pm. They will bring it at 9 pm to 4 am. And they do that every day.
At the time of gathering this report, AlimoshoToday could not get the reaction of Ikeja Electric Business Unit on Ponle Street. Instead, the reporter was directed to Alausa.