27th September, 2010
Youths in Akoka under the auspices of Akoka Community Association, Akoka in Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos State, South West Nigeria, have protested what they called Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN’s) insensitivity to the plight of the people and appealed to the authority of the power company to rectify the faults causing power failure in some parts of the community for quite some time now.
The youths who were from Solanke, Oluwole, Adetayo, Osonyinpeju, Banji Adewole and Ibukun-Olu streets, told Lagos Bulletin during the peaceful protest that following the breakdown of Oluwole substation, which has caused residents untold hardship, the agency promised to instal another transformer in February but this is yet to be.
They also protested against unscrupulous tariff and sharing pattern that is, the one-day on and one-day off system adopted by the company, saying this has become another source of concern to them.
They appealed to the management of PHCN to replace the 500KVA transformer at Oluwole and reconnect some houses on Solanke Street to a private transformer at number 14, saying it will reduce the burden of the former transformer.
They also advised the agency not to ignore an agreement reached with the people of the affected areas, when the youths visited its Somolu District Office and Igbobi Undertaking recently.
Mr. Olubunmi Osoko, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Onipanu Divisional Headquarters, commended the youths for the way the issue was handled, while promising to appeal to the authority of the agency on their behalf to ensure that problem of regular electricity supply becomes a thing of the past in the Akoka.