Tensions Mount In Iba As Over Seven Communities Face Six-Week Blackout; Youths Mobilize For Mass Protest Against Eko Electricity Distribution Company

Residents of Iba, Lagos, mobilize for a mass protest on March 23 following a 6-week blackout. Allegations of power diversion and billing fraud by EKEDC.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 11:23 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Independent

A Prolonged State of Darkness

The Iba Inside community and its environs in Lagos have reached a breaking point following a total power failure that has lasted over a month and a half. Since the final week of February 2026, over seven distinct areas—including Progress Estate, Progress Estate Phase 4, Addo, and parts of the GRA—have been deprived of electricity. Residents state that the sudden transition from receiving 8–11 hours of daily power to a total blackout has paralyzed local life, leaving the community in what they describe as "perpetual darkness."

Allegations of Power Racketeering

At the heart of the crisis are serious allegations of corruption against officials of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC). Members of the Iba Youth Forum, led by Convener Olusegun Oseni, claim to have evidence from control room logs showing that power intended for residential feeders is being diverted. They allege that unscrupulous officials are taking bribes to prioritize industrial customers, hotels, and high-brow estates at the expense of Iba residents. "Economic and social activities have grinded to a halt," Oseni lamented, noting that the "National Grid" excuse often cited by the company appears inconsistent with the steady supply seen in neighboring districts.

The "Estimated Billing" Trap

Beyond the lack of supply, the community is reeling from what they term "extortionate" billing practices. Residents report being slammed with monthly estimated bills ranging from N29,000 to N59,000 for modest "room and parlour" apartments with no high-consumption appliances. Many affected customers claim they applied and paid for prepaid meters over three months ago but have been met with silence. They alledge that the delay is intentional, designed to keep them trapped in an archaic estimated billing system that generates revenue for the company without the obligation of service delivery.