Lagos Communities Shutdown EKEDC Headquarters Over Estimated Bills

Three Communities  from  Ojo Local Government on Friday staged a peaceful protest at the head office,Eko  Electricity Distribution Company(EKEDC) situated at Marina, Lagos Island, over estimated bills.

The communities are Agric, Onireke and Owode Community Development Association (CDAs) ably led by their Chairman and youth leaders.

They also demanded for prepaid meter from their electricity supplier.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesters, including youth leaders, residents and market women from the communities were led by Agric Community Joint Chairman, Mr Abiodun Gbamgboye.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: ”Estimated billings an act of wickedness”, ”Estimated  Billings is outdated, give us prepaid meter”, “No prepaid meter, no payment”, “Estimated bill, daylight robbery”.

Gbamgboye said that the protest became necessary in view of many complaints by the community members against estimated bills by the EKEDC.

He said the communities were not enjoying regular electricity that would warrant such high bills.

“Just imagine a room apartment paying N19,000 in a month, and a two bedroom paying up to N50,000 in a month. This payment look like extortion from us and it has to stop.

“We are demanding for prepaid meter too, enough of this act of extortion from their zonal office,” he said.

Gbamgboye, however, urged their supplier to investigate and stop the increments on their bills before given them prepaid meter.

Also, a youth leader representing Onireke and its surburb, Mr Jamiu Adeosun alleged that over the years, their electricity supplier have always increase their bills without cogent reasons.

“We dont know why they kept increasing the bills,electricity bill is now competing with house rent,we are saying no to extortion,” Adeosun said.

Also, the representative of Owode community, Mr Adewale Akinwande urged EKEDC that their demand should be treated with utmost urgency as the situation is getting out of hand.

“This matter needs to be treated urgently,we are tired of estimated bills, which meter are they reading? We need prepaid meter urgently,” he said.

However, one of the officers who came out to listen to their plights invited the three community heads for an indoor dialogue.

All efforts by the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reporter to speak with the Public Relation Officer proved futile.

(NAN)