Residents of Oshodi, Mafoluku, others protest against Ikeja Electric’s unmetering, crazy billing

By KEMISOLA OLADELE, Lagos

“Their stand is that they are financially incapacitated despite that they have been collecting our money. But there is a way out for metering. They said they don’t produce meters and we told them that ‘you are the ones who use these meters to calculate for your earnings. You have to provide us meters.'”

Electricity consumers in Oshodi, Mafoluku, Sogunle and Ewutuntun Community (OMSE) in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State, on Wednesday October 30, 2024, protested in the streets and Business Office of Ikeja Electric (IE) at Okota, to express their displeasure about metering and crazy mthe Electricity Distribution Company (DisCo).

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The DEFENDER, which covered the protest event, reports that the four-community group, in a complaint letter addressed to Mrs. Folake Soetan, the Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) head office in Alausa, Ikeja, dated 27th September 2024, had clearly highlighted its cases against the company.

In the letter titled, “URGENT RESOLUTION OF METERING AND BILLING ISSUES”, jointly signed by its Chairman, Engr Babatunde Faleye, Secretary, Comrade Olugbenga Keku, and Chairman Electricity Committee, Mr. Kola Ajaiyi, the OMSE said, “The community is deeply concerned about the persistent harassment and intimidation of electricity workers who disconnect power supply. This issue is exacerbated by inflated and unjust consumption costs.”

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It listed what it called the documented numerous instances of the issues to include: a) Billing for non-existent or removed analog meters. b) Unaddressed faulty meters, despite reported complaints. c) Imposition of exorbitant estimated charges without justification.

“To prevent further escalation and protect community interests, we, the Residents of Oshodi, Mafoluku, Sogunle, and Ewutuntun (OMSE), collectively resolve to bring to your attention the following pressing concerns and demand urgent resolution”.

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Its key demands: 1. Free Metering: Provide free meters to all households in our community to ensure accurate
billing. 2. Abolition of Estimated Billing: Replace the current estimated billing system with a fair, transparent, and meter-based billing method. 3. Resolution of Overestimated Bills: Investigate and rectify all outstanding overestimated bills
in our community, ensuring refunds where applicable.

Also, it listed its additional concerns to include i. Regular maintenance and repair of faulty meters. ii. Prompt response to reported issues. iii. Clear communication on billing and payment procedures. iv. IKEDC had coded the remaining readable meters without any technical report or
information, leading to fraudulent, artificially inflated estimated charge.

According to the letter, “Non-Compliance Consequence: Failure to address these concerns will compel us to prohibit the Ikeja Electric Enforcement Unit
from operating in our community until satisfactory resolution is achieved. Ultimatum: The community hereby gives IKEJA Electric a 14-day ultimatum, effective from the date of this
letter, to:

“1. Acknowledge receipt of this letter. 2. Provide a clear plan and timeline for resolving the outlined issues. 3. Commence implementation of agreed-upon solutions.”

Providing a resolution pathway, OMSE said, “We remain open to constructive dialogue and negotiation to resolve these issues amicably,” in the letter it copied to authorities concerned such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), ⁠Oshodi Business Unit, Executive Chairman Oshodi Local Government, Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 1 Lagos State House of Assembly Representative, Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 1 Federal House of Representatives Delegate and Lagos West National Assembly.

During the protest following failure to timely address the highlighted issues, the Oshodi, Mafoluku, Sogunle and Ewutuntun residents took their protests to the IKEDC Okota Business Office where their representatives, led by Chairman Babatunde Faleye, engaged the power company management in an in-door discussion after which others were briefed.

Upon emerging from the meeting, Faleye gave his members a feedback saying, “Their stand is that they are financially incapacitated despite that they have been collecting our money. But there is a way out for metering. They had said they don’t produce meters and we told them that ‘you are the ones who use these meters to calculate for your earnings. You have to provide us meters.’ And they have said they will be like intermediary between us and the meter providers and they will get back to us on Monday. That is on metering.

“On vendor financing, they said they will be spreading the payment and that is for further discussion. And they told us that they have started paying back already for every meter that has been purchased, if we look at the token that we have been buying. For those that have bought meters they are refunding payments for their meters. We said we are not aware of that bit that we would go back to do our verification and further check. That is as regards metering.

“On the overbills that we are getting as a result of the MD 1 Capping, they said that we should come back to them and bring all those places that they have capped now MD 1 that they will look at it as there is a means for them justifying it. If it more than 15 amps usage that is when they push to MD 1. If it is more than 45 amps usage, they push them to MD 2 but that some areas have been zoned D and some C.

“But majority of Oshodi, some parts of Mafoluku and the majority of Shogunle and Ewu Tuntun have been zoned D. Some parts of Mafoluku have been zoned C especially those that have been capped with Ajao Estate Undertaking and there reason is that they get more Electricity supply.

“We have told them that we know for some days now, there has been no supply at Ajao Estate and they have said that they would look into all those, that it is a general thing and that we should write a letter on our letterhead and they would look into it, holistically.

“As for individual overbilling that we call crazy bills, they said we should come as representatives for individuals of the communities to check if they have a case and that they would attend to them although they would have to investigate, which is rightfully so.

“But we have told them that there is a problem brewing in the communities and that our people are very tense. So, if they don’t want problems to ignite, they way out is to get us metered and it was generally accepted as the way to go. We hope that they live by their word. By Monday we will get the feedback from them on the vendor financing that they have said.

“It is good in one way that once we get these meters we pay in piecemeal and they are also paying back for the purchases of those meters.

“Now, Mark you, if we are going by vendor financing it might happen quicker to get meters but the vendors that will finance those meters will have their own cap on it also because they are in business to make profit. That cap might not be paid back by them but the meter amount will be paid back. So that is where we are.

“We also told them about the Minister of Power, who said there are monies to be provided for meters and they said the monies have not been provided yet. That is where we are as at today.

“The struggle has only just started. It is not ended until a perfect resolution is reached and received. Right now we have till Monday and we would hold them by their word.”