By NDUKWE EDWARD
Residents and business operators in Okoya, Bale Aiyetoro, and surrounding communities in Ajeromi Local Government Area, Lagos State, are reeling under severe hardship following the electrocution tragedy that struck the area last Saturday following which incident, electricity supply has been cut off, crippling businesses and daily activities.
The prolonged outage has left households in darkness and forced many residents to scramble for alternative means to power their devices. Phone owners, for instance, are compelled to patronize roadside charging points powered by generators, where costs have sharply increased.
Water scarcity has further compounded the crisis. With borehole operators forced to rely on petrol to run their machines, prices have surged dramatically. A bucket of water, which previously sold for ₦50, now goes for as much as ₦200. Long queues at the few available water points have also left residents frustrated, with many spending hours to secure just a bucket.
“This community has been suffering untold hardship since last Saturday,” said Silas Victor, a resident. “Even our pay TV subscriptions are wasted. GOtv subscribers like me have lost several days of viewing because there is no light.”
For local business operators, the blackout has been devastating. Ngele Chima, a phone repairer in Okoya, lamented that his workshop has been grounded. “We need electricity to repair phones. Customers now go to other areas where there is power, and that has made business very dull for us,” he said.
Cyril Agari, who operates a Point of Sales (POS) business, described the situation as crippling. “Light is life. Our POS machines are dead because we can’t charge them. Running generators is expensive, and if your daily profit is below ₦5,000, it becomes impossible to buy fuel and still remain competitive.”
Food vendors are equally feeling the pinch. At Ola Mummy, a popular canteen in Aiyetoro, drinks are no longer chilled, and generator costs have forced the management to increase prices. “We’re careful not to scare away customers, but the situation has been tough,” one of the Managers explained.
The impact is not limited to small businesses. Gabitolo, a popular hangout spot for elites, has also been affected. Barrister Bright Obaduemu, a regular customer who grew up in Aiyetoro, noted that the blackout has disrupted both economic and social life. “Electricity is central to pricing commodities and services. Now, even cold drinks attract extra charges. This problem has become endemic,” he said.
Residents are calling on the authorities at all levels to urgently intervene. “We sincerely need urgent attention from local, state, and federal governments,” Obaduemu appealed. “It should not be left for one tier alone. Everyone must play their part.”
As the blackout enters its sixth day, the communities remain in distress, with no clear timeline for restoration of power.
