14 Communities Protest IKEDC’s Crazy Bills In Ikorodu

Damilare Okunola

Representatives of about 14 communities in Ikorodu, Tuesday morning, expressed their displeasure over the irregularities of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, IKEDC in their areas.

The protesters, who stormed the power company’s office in Alogba Estate, Ikorodu, listed their complaints, ranging from crazy bills, irregularity of power supply despite the constant billing as well as the absence of meter readers in the various communities.

The representatives from Maya Jaiyesinmi, Olori Ijo, Abaku, NPA Estate, Itele, Liadi, Idafa, Enyiogbe, amont other communities, told the Business Manager of the Alogba office, Mohammed Abdullahi, that they no longer want meters, arguing that the prepaid system would be preferable.

Speaking on behalf of the communities who were at the protest, Barrister Olusoji Daomi, asked the Manager to explain why they were getting exorbitant bills despite the fact that there were no meters in the area.

He said: “sir, if meters are not in our areas, is it our fault? If there is an estimation, according to the regulatory body, it should not be for more than three months.

“But, for about two years now, we have been paying excessive bills here in the name of estimation. I use a fan, a television and a bulb in My room and parlour apartment and pay the same amount as the person who uses televisions, air conditioners and other appliances in the house.

“If there are inadequacies in the system, should it be on the people? I believe the IKEDC should be able to reach a compromise and a fair way of reaching a sharing formula that will not affect the people.”

Reacting to the allegations and complaints by the protesters, Engr. Abdullahi stated that on the issue of power outage, their feeders have not indicated non-usage, adding that, “if there have been such issues and they are just lodging their complaints on the day of protest, they are not being fair to themselves.

“But, since that is the case, we shall investigate to know why they have not had regular power and see who the defaulters are.

“On the issue of crazy bills being mentioned, there is a flat rate of estimation per house since they do not have meters yet and we have told them that the
meter distribution process would commence in June, 2015, to span the next 24 months.

“This does not also mean that the set of people who came here to protest would get theirs at the beginning of the exercise, but they shall all get it.

“The people should also write letters if they feel aggrieved by anything and not just talk with mere mouths. If any one of our staff is found to be guilty, he was employed, he can also be fired.”