Residents of Ajegunle, a densely populated community in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State, have taken to the streets in large numbers to express their strong displeasure with the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) for issuing them two separate bills every month.

They described the company?s action of ?forcing them to pay for electricity they did not consume? as not only condemnable but also unacceptable, especially during this difficult time when many Nigerians live below the poverty line.

They said it was unheard of for EKEDC to subject them to such unwarranted punishment for simply providing essential services to the public.

In response, they protested at the electricity company?s branch office in the Orege area, where they officially submitted a letter of complaint to the Zonal Manager, Mr. Martins Chukwenwe, for onward delivery to the CEO, Mrs. Rekhiat Momoh, at the headquarters in Marina.

Some of the residents? electricity bills, covering both regular and flat-rate charges, were obtained by the Nigerian Tribune.

One of the residents and leaders of the protest, Mr. Moshood Oshunfurewa, narrated their ordeal, stating that they had previously complained verbally to the same branch office on several occasions, but no positive results had been achieved.

?It is for this reason that we decided to escalate the matter to the headquarters,? he added.

Oshunfurewa, a teacher and social activist, explained that EKEDC started issuing double bills two months ago, leading to substantial debt for residents. According to him, the first bill is the usual monthly charge, which varies from customer to customer, with most on estimated billing since the majority have not received prepaid meters. The second bill is a flat rate of ?7,808 for every customer in the affected communities.

?This is a strange practice. How can you serve customers two bills for one meter each month?

?We even applied for prepaid meters, but only a few were provided.

?This kind of thing only happens in Nigeria, and we, the people of Ajegunle, refuse to accept it.

?If we ask, what is the volume of energy that the people of Ajegunle consume monthly? How many of us still have functional televisions, let alone refrigerators or pressing irons, which usually consume more energy?

?Most of us are only concerned with basic illumination, especially at night, and occasionally for electric fans.?

Oshunfurewa pointed out that while most communities in the entire Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area are classified under either Band B or C, he insisted that issuing huge bills for electricity they did not consume is a grave injustice.

?EKEDC should explain to Nigerians why the people of Ajegunle are being treated this way.

?It?s exploitation, and we won?t accept it.?

Oshunfurewa recalled that the EKEDC Orege office had previously claimed the National Electricity Regulations Commission (NERC) was aware of the practice, but no official document was provided to support the claim.

?As far as we?re concerned, this practice won?t stand. We say no to double billing, no to outrageous billing, and no to unfair treatment.?

Oshunfurewa listed some of the affected streets, including but not limited to Etugbo, Layinka, Odofin, Amechi, Arumoh, Nosamu, Orodu, and the popular Boundary Road. He noted that residents not only suffer from an erratic power supply but also face severe hardship, as the situation affects their businesses, disrupts their sleep, and poses security risks due to frequent blackouts.

?We can?t continue like this, and EKEDC must listen to us and address our concerns. The company should only bill us for the electricity we actually consume. We cannot afford any additional financial burdens

?Moreover, the company must not disconnect anyone for refusing to pay the second bill, and it should stop issuing such bills altogether. Prepaid meters should be provided so we can pay for what we actually use,? he emphasized.

Another resident, Mr. Tunde Yusuf, also expressed his frustration, describing EKEDC?s actions as unfair.

He said, ?The people of Ajegunle are law-abiding citizens, and that?s why we are here at EKEDC?s office to express our disapproval. We will not and cannot accept double billing.

?Everyone knows that times are hard.

?We struggle to feed our families due to the rising costs of food and other basic needs.

?We don?t know if this government is indifferent to our suffering. The masses are struggling to survive.

?Since this government came into power about a year and a half ago, the prices of goods and services have skyrocketed. Electricity tariffs have increased, along with fuel prices, food, school fees, rent, and transportation costs.

?It?s a terrible situation we find ourselves in.

?How can we now spend the little money we have on paying for electricity we didn?t even consume?

?This is a sad situation, and we cannot allow it to continue.?

Yusuf urged EKEDC to convene a town hall meeting with all stakeholders to address these concerns.

Meanwhile, the Zonal Manager, Mr. Martins, received the letter from the protesters and promised to forward it to the appropriate authorities.

When contacted, the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Strategy, Mr. Babatunde Lasaki, asked our correspondent to send a text message. However, he did not respond to the message sent on Friday, September 27, nor did he reply to the reminder sent on Wednesday, October 2, up until the time of filing this report. (Nigerian Tribune)

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