Lagos Community Rejects Planned Migration To Band A, Files Petition

Residents of the Ilasamaja village in Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos State, have expressed strong opposition to Eko power Distribution Company’s (EKDC) proposed migration of their power rate from Band B to Band A.

In a petition submitted to EKDC’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, the community pledged to oppose the move by all legal measures accessible to them.

The petition, which was also copied to the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Lagos State House of Assembly, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, emphasized the community’s dissatisfaction and reluctance to accept the migration.

“We are leaders of all Community Development Associations (CDAs) representing the residents of Ilasamaja, Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State. We have it on good authority that there are sinister plans to forcefully migrate us from Band B to Band A. We reject this plan and will resist it with everything at our disposal. We have already informed our lawyers to be on red alert for any eventuality.”

The community leaders also stated that, while they are nonviolent, they will not hesitate to seek legal action if the EKDC proceeds with the plan.

“We are a peace-loving community, but we will not take our peaceful disposition as cowardice. We will bite without hesitation if you put your hands into our mouth. This evil and unwarranted plan to move us from one band to another forcefully must be jettisoned if you do not want to see the other side of us. We don’t want any movement to any Band A. It was bad enough that you put us on Band ‘B’ without consultation, but forcing us to Band A will definitely be a joke taken too far.”

The petition claims that residents have been exploited since they were placed on Band B without prior consultation. They said that, despite persistent demonstrations and concerns, many community members were billed under Band A’s higher rate scheme.

“Ever since you forcefully and wickedly put us on Band B, many of the residents of the community have since discovered that you have surreptitiously been billing them through Band A system. Despite complaints and protests, you have greedily refused to rectify or address their complaints and the problem. You cannot force us to swallow the evil and wicked pills of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that have not only inflicted unbearable suffering and poverty on the citizens but continue to kill our small and medium enterprises among others.”

The petition emphasized the economic problems of Ilasamaja people, who include low-income earners, minor traders, and pensioners.

“You are aware that the residents of Ilasamaja community are mostly peasants, petty traders, lowly paid workers, retirees, and others struggling to earn a living who barely manage to take care of themselves and their responsibilities. The last thing they need is an exploitative electricity tariff that would worsen their living conditions.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli