Despite the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe’s announcement that electricity supply has been restored to Lagos and other states following repairs to a vandalised transmission line, many residents of Lagos are still complaining about persistent blackouts, insisting that the power situation in their communities remains unchanged.
From business owners and domestic electricity users, the story is the same, their businesses have been paralyzed, their no electricity to power their home appliances.
“Heat Wave is not allowing our children to sleep,” a resident said, calling on the government to do something quick before “disaster happens.”
The minister had on Monday announced that electricity had returned to several areas in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Kwara states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following the restoration of the vandalised Benin-Egbin 330-kilovolt transmission line.
According to Tegbe, the repair of the transmission line had increased electricity supply to the Lagos Complex to more than 1,000 megawatts, effectively returning supply to the level recorded before the disruption.
However, his announcement has been challenged by electricity consumers who took to social media to dispute the government’s claim, saying several communities in Lagos were still without electricity.
An Instagram user, @Zaynablawan, specifically complained about the situation in Igbogbo, Ikorodu, questioning whether the community had been forgotten in the minister’s announcement.
“There is no light in Igbogbo, Ikorodu o, it’s also part of Lagos State in case people have forgotten,” the user wrote.
Another user, @estherokoror, who identified Orchid Road as her location, also challenged the minister’s claim, asking: “Sir no light in Orchid Road, why the lies.”
Similarly, another social media user, @Dsleekchief, simply wrote: “No light anywhere, please.”
On X, another user, HORLARB (@horlarbsblog), questioned the minister’s announcement, asking: “Which part of Lagos?”
Another user, @MCEMMANUEL19, also expressed frustration over the continued blackout, writing: “Which Lagos? Oga stop this rubbish and give us light since four days now.”
The complaints suggest that the government’s announcement of improved electricity supply has yet to translate into noticeable relief for many consumers, particularly residents who say their communities remain without power.
The minister had earlier attributed the electricity crisis to a combination of planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station, inadequate gas supply to some thermal power plants and the vandalism of critical transmission infrastructure.
He disclosed that the combined effect of the challenges resulted in the loss of almost 800 megawatts from the Lagos electricity supply system.
Tegbe also revealed that the government was working to restore the Osogbo-Ikeja West 330kV transmission line, which has remained out of service for about 18 months following the vandalism of six transmission towers in a swampy area.
According to him, the restoration of the line could provide an additional 400 megawatts to Lagos, with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) expected to complete the repairs by the end of November.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Independent System Operator had attributed the recent decline in electricity generation to gas supply constraints affecting thermal power plants and reduced water inflows into hydroelectric reservoirs.
The question on the lips of many households and businesses is, for how long will they continuing to grapple with unreliable supply despite repeated government assurances.
Pulse Nigeria
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