By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
Residents of the General Alagbado area in Lagos State have lamented a prolonged power outage following the breakdown of a transformer serving the axis, which has forced landlords to contribute funds for repairs.
Reports state that the affected communities have been without electricity for over a week after the transformer developed a fault, leaving households and businesses in darkness.
According to residents, repeated complaints to officials of the electricity distribution company (often referred to as NEPA) yielded no immediate solution.
This prompted community members to resort to self-help, with each landlord in the area mandated to contribute N20,000 to facilitate the repair of the damaged transformer.
However, many residents expressed frustration, noting that despite the regular payment of electricity bills, communities are still burdened with the responsibility of fixing public power infrastructure.
A resident, speaking anonymously, said the prolonged outage has negatively affected small businesses, increased spending on generator fuel, and worsened living conditions amid current economic hardships.
“The transformer was damaged over a week ago, and we have been in darkness since then. People can no longer preserve food, businesses are suffering, and students cannot study comfortably at night. What is painful is that after paying bills regularly, residents are still the ones contributing money to repair the transformer,” the resident said.
Another resident disclosed that the N20,000 contribution per house has generated mixed reactions among landlords, especially those struggling with rising living expenses.
Beyond the blackout itself, the larger issue remains the continued transfer of public utility responsibilities to ordinary Nigerians.
Despite the payment of electricity bills, taxes, and various levies, communities are often left abandoned when critical infrastructure collapses, compelled to fund repairs for facilities owned and managed by private power distribution companies.
This recurring pattern raises serious concerns about accountability within Nigeria’s power sector. The expectation of residents is simple, if consumers are consistently billed for services, there should be a functional system for maintaining infrastructure and responding to faults without forcing communities into emergency fundraising.
For traders, artisans, and small business owners in General Alagbado, the blackout has translated into financial losses, spoiled goods, and increased dependence on expensive fuel. Families must also endure uncomfortable nights amid soaring temperatures.
The situation in General Alagbado is not isolated; several communities in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria face similar issues, with residents increasingly expected to buy transformers or replace cables.
This growing normalization reflects a widening gap between service delivery and consumer responsibility. It brings a pressing national question to the forefront: What exactly are Nigerians paying for if they must still personally fund the repair of critical infrastructure?
Residents have appealed to the electricity distribution authorities and the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene and provide a lasting solution to recurring transformer failures and the unstable power supply in the area.