By Dansu Peter The Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (BACCIMA) has taken a proactive step in addressing the ele...
By Dansu Peter
The forum, aimed at bridging communication gaps and finding solutions to persistent electricity issues, drew participants from various sectors, including business owners, community leaders, and law enforcement.
Alhaji Idris Oladiran Yahaya, President of BACCIMA, underlined the critical role of electricity in economic development. "Reliable power is essential for businesses in Badagry to thrive. Irregular power supply increases operational costs for industries like hotels and factories," he said, calling for urgent interventions to address the situation, report by CityMood Badagry says
Similarly, CSP Folayemi Idowu, represented by Mr. Owolabani Oke, highlighted the electricity challenges facing the police station. "Our operations depend on consistent power supply. Relying on generators is not sustainable," he said.
High Chief Hundogan Samuel, the Agoloto of Badagry and head of Ganwo Quarters, shared a troubling narrative of his community's struggles. He recounted a 19-month blackout caused by a damaged transformer, which was eventually replaced through community efforts and political support. However, he accused EKEDC officials of demanding payments and the donation of the transformer before restoring power.
Here’s the revised version:
Also speaking at the event was Mr. Benedict, who addressed the rollout process and highlighted how Badagry has been excluded from the federal metering initiative.
He further discussed the electricity tariff band assigned to Badagry, noting that residents are entitled to a minimum of eight hours of power daily under the Capping Methodology Orders of 2020.
Lastly, he raised concerns about the persistent issue of epileptic power supply, which has been causing significant damage to electronic appliances. This, he emphasized, is critical information that requires urgent attention.
Mr. Isa Benjamin, EKEDC’s Badagry Business Manager, acknowledged the concerns raised and expressed the company’s commitment to improving services. He explained that Badagry's reliance on just two supply sources limits distribution capacity. He also urged residents to adopt prepaid meters and avoid relying on intermediaries for bill payments.
"We appreciate this platform provided by BACCIMA. It allows us to hear directly from stakeholders and work towards collaborative solutions," Benjamin said, adding that government support for infrastructure development could enhance power distribution in the area.
During the forum, stakeholders raised issues such as unsteady power supply, inefficient prepaid meters, rising tariffs, and billing discrepancies. Mrs. Adeshola, a businesswoman, questioned EKEDC's commitment to addressing these concerns. "Can measures be taken to regulate the exorbitant bills issued to residents?" she asked.
According to CityMood Badagry, the meeting concluded with assurances from EKEDC to address the challenges. BACCIMA pledged to continue facilitating dialogues to ensure lasting solutions, emphasizing that electricity is a key driver of development in Badagry.
Residents and businesses now await tangible improvements, hoping that this engagement marks a turning point in the quest for reliable power supply in the region.
Photo Credit: CityMood Badagry
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