Some residents of Lagos Island have lauded Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc for improved power supply in their neighbourhood.
In a vox pop conducted around Ajah, VGC, Banana Island, Chevron, Osborne Estate 1, Primewater View, Main One, and Royal Garden Estate, respondents reported an average of 20 hours of uninterrupted electricity supply in their homes and places of business.
According to James Babarinde, a lawyer whose office is near Banana Island, “It’s a reprieve, I tell you. Not having to fuel the generator for weeks is fantastic. You can’t even begin to imagine how this makes us feel.”
A resident, Chioma Nwogwugwu, said she hoped Eko Disco would keep the power supply constant, even in its present form. “Look, my brother, I don’t even mind the 20 hours. That’s a lot better than where we’re coming from.”
Kayode Ogunnuga said: “I don’t understand how they’re able to do this, but it’s all good and we’ll be watching.”
“This is unusual,” said Chris Elkanah, an entrepreneur who has his home and office near Banana Island. “The light doesn’t even blink throughout the day. Not that I’m complaining, though.”
Some of those who spoke however shared a common anxiety over the new electricity reality. One of them, Biola Tijani, said she hoped the improvement would be permanent.
“Eko Disco or whoever is in charge of this regular light deserves our commendation. But the commendation will be bigger if they make the light constant.”
As for Goke Daniel, he’d just like to say, “Please keep it up. Please.”
An official of Eko Disco who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We have been re-investing in our business to make sure that consumer actually feel a considerable improvement in their power supply.”
The employee added: “Right now, we’re actually subsidising the cost of maintaining a 20-hour supply. But eventually, we’re aiming for an all-day, all-week supply.
“As a business we understand that when power supply gets better, more businesses will thrive and employ more people and we can create a cycle of prosperity in Nigeria.
This cycle is exactly what the country is hoping for, said Kunle Aderibigbe, a resident of VGC. “Think about how many lives will be changed when you don’t have to spend all your profit on fuelling your generator,” he said.
