Residents of Isokan Phase I & II, Ayobo, Lagos, have commended Ikeja Electric (IE) for installing a new transformer to restore supply after months of darkness that drew ‘national attention’.

The development follows repeated petitions and media appeals that highlighted how the Isokan/Wakilu/Greenlake, Ashipa axis slipped into darkness after a critical transformer failed in December 2024.

Outage That Sparked Public Pushback

Naijaonpoint had repeatedly reported how Isokan Phase I & II, Wakilu Street, Greenlake and parts of Ashipa endured a prolonged blackout after their transformer failed on December 21, 2024, prompting petitions to IKEDC and escalations to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

After a back-and-forth, the power distribution company alleged that ‘illegal tampering’ caused the blackout, a position residents had described as ‘pure lies.’

However, community leaders have confirmed to Naijaonpoint that power has now been restored in the area following the public pressure and regulatory appeals.

‘Thanks, But This Transformer Won’t Serve Us’ – Residents Call For Capacity Upgrade

While welcoming the latest intervention, community leaders and business owners say the installed transformer alone is not sustainable for the area’s load.

They are urging the installation of an immediate second transformer or an upgraded capacity to prevent a relapse into outages as more feeders are reconnected.

They noted that earlier coverage showed how transformer failures and delayed replacements had crippled livelihoods across IE’s network, concerns they want permanently addressed in Ayobo.

One Day On, Two Days Off

Residents also lament that the current rotation, one day on, two days off, is far from adequate for homes and small businesses that incurred losses during the blackout.

They regret that, although the power supply is relatively stable across the state, their communities still have to bear a one- to two-day supply gap.

Similar rationing elsewhere has been linked to unresolved transformer and feeder constraints, reinforcing calls for capacity upgrade in Isokan Phase I & II.

Community members warned that the installed transformer is not sustainable for the load on Isokan Phase I & II and surrounding streets, urging IKEDC to immediately deploy an additional transformer or upgrade to a higher-capacity unit to forestall a relapse.

“Our population has grown, and the load is heavy. We need either a bigger transformer or an extra one to stabilise supply,” the residents added.

The community insists on an additional or higher-rated transformer to meet current and future demand. They also hope for a published restoration plan and load-sharing schedule that moves the area toward a normalised daily supply window.

Residents urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Lagos State Electricity Board to monitor post-installation performance in Isokan and ensure service levels improve from the current rotation cycle to a more reliable schedule, noting that long gaps in supply had previously forced shops to shut and families to ration essentials.