Lagos Community Protests 18-Month Power Blackout

Residents of Maya Olorijo Estate in Ikorodu, Lagos State, staged a peaceful protest on Monday due to an ongoing blackout that has lasted for 18 months. The demonstration involved landlords and youth who marched to the Ikeja Electric business district, displaying placards with messages such as "18 months dark kill Olorijo" and "18 months no light." Victor Ologhobo, chairman of the Olorijo Community Development Association, explained that the crisis began when a transformer serving the estate developed a fault on January 13, 2025, and has yet to be repaired.

The absence of electricity has made daily life and business operations increasingly difficult, with local business owners noting a significant rise in operational costs due to reliance on fuel-powered generators. Emmanuel Iberuch from Ikeja Electric apologized for the prolonged delay, attributing it to administrative bottlenecks.

He assured residents that once the necessary approvals are secured, a new transformer will be installed at no cost to the community.