The Eko Electricity Distribution Company has called on residents of Ibeju-Lekki and nearby communities to exercise caution around electrical installations as the rainy season approaches.
The company emphasised critical safety measures to prevent electrical accidents and ensure a reliable power supply.
In a statement on Friday after its customer engagement forum held in the Ibeju district, where the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Eko Distribution Company, Mrs. Rekhiat Momoh, was represented by the Chief Finance Officer, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Joseph Esenwa.
Advertisement
To order your copy, send a WhatsApp message to +1 317 665 2180
The advisory is coming at a time when Ibeju-Lekki is experiencing challenges related to illegal connections, vandalism, and unsafe construction practices near power infrastructure, which threaten both public safety and service continuity.
“We will encourage everybody – please don’t build under wires for safety reasons. There are standard regulations regarding safety and building under high tension lines, and we must all comply with the prescribed distances before construction,” Esenwa said.
The well-attended event brought together business owners, Community Development Association leaders, and local community representatives to discuss power-related challenges and collaborative safety measures.
Esenwa strongly cautioned against building or erecting structures under or extremely close to power installations to avoid the risk of electrocution.
He highlighted additional safety concerns, including illegal electrical connections that compromise system integrity, vandalism of Eko DisCo installations affecting service delivery, and building directly above underground electrical cables, which pose serious safety hazards.
The CFO assured residents that Eko DisCo is implementing extra measures to ensure safety during the rainy season through increased maintenance schedules for cables and poles, enhanced vigilance on installation integrity, and prompt response systems for customer-reported faults.
Customers were encouraged to report any electrical faults they observed to the district’s customer service for immediate maintenance attention.
In a demonstration of Eko DisCo’s commitment to customer satisfaction, most complaints regarding faulty meters and transformers presented at the forum were instantly granted replacement orders by the CFO, to the elation of customers and their community representatives.
Notably, six transformers were immediately ordered for energisation after repair, providing relief to
communities that have been experiencing power challenges.
The Chairman of the Lekki Estate Resident and Stakeholders Association, Infrastructure
Maintenance Committee, Wale Aderoju, praised the ongoing engagement, noting over 85 per cent satisfaction at
the meeting.
“We continue to cooperate with Eko DisCo to achieve desired service levels while ensuring our communities act as watchmen against vandalism,” he stated.
The forum also addressed the persistent challenge of energy theft, with Esenwa acknowledging it
as “a huge problem” requiring continuous monitoring and enforcement of Commission-approved
sanctions.
Joseph Idinye, representing Destiny Homes, emphasised community cooperation in combating energy theft, saying, “When somebody is stealing electricity and others look the other way, we all suffer for it. Any tendency to steal electricity is to our own detriment.”
The Head Project, Technical Services, Ovie Adjekpiyede, provided updates on ongoing infrastructure projects, including a new Federal Government-awarded substation project for the Ibeju-Lekki area, Elemoro substation expansion to receive an additional 8MW capacity by the end of 2025, and enhanced power stability initiatives covering communities from Awoyaya to Lakue.
“We are working assiduously to ensure a reliable power supply is sustained in the Ibeju-Lekki area
through strategic partnerships with Federal, State, and Local Governments,” Adjekpiyede stated.
The forum highlighted Eko DisCo’s multi-tier complaint resolution system, enabling customers to escalate issues from the district level to higher authorities when necessary.
Customers were also informed about bandwidth verification processes and payment plan options to ensure continuous service.
As the ember months approach with increased power consumption for ceremonies and celebrations, Eko DisCo reiterated its commitment to safety and reliable service delivery while calling for continued community partnership in maintaining electrical infrastructure.
