Eko Disco leaves Orile, Ijesha, Aguda, Surulere in darkness for one week

A week-long power outage has crippled commercial activities in mainland Lagos, with residents of Ijesha, Sanya, Surulere, Orile, Mile 2 and parts of Oshodi telling this reporter that they have never had it this bad, while cursing their luck.

The electricity distribution company in charge of these suburbs is called Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCo).

"We have not had as much as a flicker of light for a week now," says Bayo who resides in Ilamoye, Ijesha. "Worse, Eko DisCo hasn't explained what's going on to us."

Chiamaka who trades in fish and chicken in Ogundoju, tells this writer that she has been forced to close shop. "I can't afford the petrol for the generator anymore. I'll reopen my shop when Eko DisCo remembers us."

Nigeria has been battling epileptic power supply and periodic collapses of the national grid for decades. A privatisation drive implemented with so much fanfare in 2013, has brought little succour.

A customer care representative for Eko DisCo did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

However, an engineer with Eko DisCo who pleaded that his name be left out of this story because he has not been given permission to speak to the press, tells this writer that the blackout is due to a major transmission fault.

He says Eko DisCo head office is working round-the-clock and strenuously to fix the problem and restore power to these suburbs in the next 48hrs.