Blackout Hits Igando, Egan

Residents of Igando and Egan in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria have appealed to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria to do something about the blackout in the areas.

The residents and landlords complained that since the towns were thrown into darkness four days ago, they have been finding life difficult.

A resident, Mrs. Ann Williams Amor of 4, Adetoun Close, said: “I have been living in this area for five years and we always find it difficult to get water because there is no electricity to pump water. We depend on generator and this is very expensive to maintain because you have to use fuel all the time.”

She explained that on average, residents spend between N100 and N150 per day to buy water from vendors.

Mrs. William explained further that a big bowl which is about 10-litre costs five naira but some water vendors can sell 30-litre bowl for N10 or N15 if there is light.

“The situation is a difficult one because we have to wake up as early as 6a.m. to fetch water. If you wake up late, you will meet a long queue and you may end up not getting water since there are only three major water vendors in the area and they shut their taps by 8.30 a.m. You also have to come back home early to fetch water if you don’t have water stored in the house since the water vendors start selling betweent 4p.m. and 8 p.m.

A food seller, Mrs. Owolabi Afolabi appealed to the PHCN to restore light to the area so that they can have water cheap.

According to Mrs. Afolabi, “water is available but it is not free or cheap. Sometime I spend N100 on water but when there is no light it is more expensive. It is very painful because my profit is not much and I still have to take out of it to buy water. So, you can see what we are facing. PHCN should please give us light. For four days now we have not seen light.”

One of the water vendors in the area popularly known as Baba Olomi explained that he was only assisting the people to get water “because there is no profit in the business.

“I use money to buy diesel to power my generator since PHCN is unreliable.”

The secretary of New Olorunfemi Elero CDA, Mrs. Adetoun Noibi called on the Alimosho local government chairman to provide water for the people.

Another resident, Miss Kadoon Desmond identified water as the major problem of residents and called on the state government to come to their aid.

—Kashimana Beba