Residents of Forthright Gardens Estate in Magboro, Ogun State, have suffered weeks of continuous blackout, receiving only brief, intermittent power supply despite being classified as a Band B estate entitled to 12–16 hours of electricity daily. Estate chairman Mr. Adenola Quadri said residents pay high tariffs but receive no corresponding service, calling the situation a severe crisis. He accused Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) of repeatedly citing a faulty Akute Feeder as the cause without delivering a lasting fix. "How many times must we hear 'Akute Feeder fault' before it is fixed? At what point does a recurring fault cease to be an excuse and become evidence of systemic neglect?" Quadri asked.
The outage has disrupted daily life, with families struggling to preserve food and medication, students unable to study, and small businesses incurring heavy losses from reliance on generators. Nursing mother Mrs. Sote said the heat and stress have made life unbearable for her and her newborn. Mr. Samson E.D. said residents are spending their entire monthly electricity budget on petrol within two days. Samuel Adebayo said his family has lost thousands of naira in spoiled food and cannot sleep or carry out basic chores.
Residents are demanding immediate restoration of stable power, a public explanation for the recurring feeder failures, a clear timeline for permanent repairs, compliance with Band B supply obligations, and compensation or credit for the prolonged outage. They have called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), consumer protection agencies, and civil society groups to intervene. IKEDC spokesperson Kingsley Okotie said he would respond after consultation but had not done so by press time.
The same Akute Feeder fault that IKEDC cites for weeks of blackouts in Magboro has never triggered a public repair timeline or accountability from the company. Residents paying Band B tariffs are subsidizing a broken system while losing food, income, and peace. IKEDC's silence after repeated complaints signals a disregard for contractual obligations. Customers are not asking for charity—they are demanding the service they are already paying for.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
