By RUKAYAT MOISEMHE

Residents under the Lekki Estates and Residents Stakeholders Association (LERSA) on Monday engaged the leadership of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) to address persistent electricity supply challenges within the Lekki corridor.

The President, LERSA, Mr Sulyman Bello, speaking at the engagement session on Monday in Lagos said it was convened to address pressing power supply issues affecting the residents of the area.

The engagement focused on identifying key electricity distribution problems affecting the areas and exploring practical solutions to improve supply.

Bello noted that discussions would focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on past shortcomings.

He said the need to improve electricity supply had become more urgent following the recent hike in petrol prices, which had made it increasingly difficult for residents to rely on petrol-powered generators.

“We are here to solve the problem of power and its availability. We are not going to dwell too much on the errors of the past but focus on the challenges facing the area in order to find solutions.

“It is even more compelling that we find solutions now due to the hike in petrol prices as a result of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

“People who ordinarily would run generating sets are now finding it difficult, which is why the power provided by EKEDC remains the best option for our circumstances,” he said.

The Chairman, LERSA Power Committee, Mr Obi Isiuwa, said the meeting provided an opportunity for residents and the distribution company to review issues in detail and seek clarity on areas of concern.

Isiuwa said some of the issues raised might require further consultations by the electricity company, while others could be resolved in the short term.“By having this meeting we are able to go into details, provide clarity where required, have them properly analysed and get feedback on what they think they can do.

“When customers see that there is progress, it helps to manage expectations and build confidence in the process,” he said.

He listed areas experiencing electricity supply challenges to include Joseph Avenue and Mohammed Yinka Bello Crescent in Onigbongbo Town, Sangotedo area, Southern Estate Lakowe Phase II and environs, Abijo GRA and Sea Side Estate in Ajah.

Other affected areas include Crown Estate in Sangotedo, Madam Cellular Close off Agungi Road, U3 Estate off Akinyemi Avenue, Marwa Bus Stop in Lekki and the Onikoyi/Araromi area off Mobil Road in Ajah.

According to him, the challenges range from inadequate transformers, frequent breakdown of injection feeders and voltage fluctuations to ageing distribution infrastructure and intermittent tripping.

Responding, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of EKEDC, Mr Olumide Jerome, said the company had committed billions of naira towards improving electricity distribution and infrastructure within its network.

Jerome said the company had also invested in new facilities and infrastructure as part of efforts by the new management to improve service delivery to customers.

He said EKEDC was prepared to distribute transformers on a case-by-case basis, commission new feeders in some locations, replace faulty panels and complete ongoing injection substation projects.

Jerome added that about 100 transformers were available for deployment to areas with critical needs.

He, however, noted that in cases where properties had been redeveloped from residential buildings into high-rise structures, hotels or other energy-intensive facilities, developers should provide private transformers rather than depend on public ones.

“Where properties have moved from the original structure to high-rise developments or hotels, developers should factor private transformers into their projects instead of putting additional load on public transformers,” he said.

Jerome also encouraged residents to report cases where buildings had been illegally connected to public transformers so that the company could address them.

Also speaking, the Head of Projects Department at EKEDC, Mrs Angela Ukhokhoakhe, said the company had completed about 38 electricity infrastructure projects from January 2025 till date.

Ukhokhoakhe said the projects included the rehabilitation of 26 feeders and the commissioning of four new feeders across parts of the network.

She said EKEDC had also commissioned the NTDA Injection Substation with two 33kV feeders and three 11kV feeders.

According to her, the company replaced a 15MVA power transformer at the Maroko Injection Substation and carried out the replacement of obsolete 11kV panels at several substations including NEPA Close, Fowler, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Elemoro and Waterfront.

She added that the T2 15MVA power transformer at the VGC Injection Substation had been retrofitted and returned to service.

Ukhokhoakhe disclosed that an additional 15MVA transformer at the Lekki Injection Substation had been completed and was awaiting commissioning.

She said 16 feeder rehabilitation projects were ongoing, while new feeder construction projects had also been awarded.

According to her, the company is also upgrading 11 units of 300kVA transformers to 500kVA capacity, upgrading the Agungi Injection Substation from 1x15MVA to 2x15MVA and extending the Medallion line to the Elemoro Injection Substation.

She emphasised that the projects were part of EKEDC’s broader efforts to improve electricity supply reliability across the Lekki axis. (NAN)

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