Residents of some parts of Ojodu, Lagos have been thrown into total darkness since January 2, 2019 when the transformer servicing the area purportedly got damaged beyond repairs.

Information has it that certain people claiming to act on behalf of Ikeja Electric Company have urged residents of the area to pay the sum of N5,000 per house in order to service the damaged transformer.

Many houses, according to a source, have even gone ahead to pay the said levy as landlords and tenants were allegedly forced to contribute towards the levy.

Our Correspondent spoke with an official of Ikeja Electric, Ojodu office, one Mr Adodo, on the said demand from residents in the affected area who denied that the company gave directive for such levy.

He said the management of the electricity distribution company was not aware of any money being collected towards the fixing of the default transformer.

He said all his “company demanded was for residents owing money on their individual bills to pay up so as to facilitate the installation of a new transformer.”

On what company is doing to stop the N5,000 “illegal” collection per house for the transformer, he said: “I will advise my manager to arrange for someone to go street by street with a public address system on Wednesday (today) and inform residents not to pay any such money to anybody.”

When asked how soon residents in the affected areas of Ojodu should expect light, he said: “As soon as residents who owe pay up their bills enough to purchase a new transformer, light will be restored. That may take another two or three months. It depends on how quick the residents can respond.”