The Eko Electricity Distribution Company has warned residents of Ibeju-Lekki and neighbouring communities not to build under or close to power lines, stressing the safety risks as the rainy season sets in.
The company gave the warning on Friday during a customer engagement forum in the Ibeju district. Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Rekhiat Momoh, was represented by the Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Joseph Esenwa, who said illegal connections, vandalism, and unsafe construction near electrical installations were major threats to public safety and reliable power supply.
“We will encourage everybody – please don’t build under wires for safety reasons. There are standard regulations regarding safety and building under high-tension lines, and we must all comply with the prescribed distances before construction,” Esenwa said.
He also cautioned against erecting structures over underground cables, stressing the danger of electrocution, while noting that vandalism and illegal connections were worsening service challenges.
Esenwa assured that Eko DisCo has stepped up maintenance of poles and cables, improved monitoring of installations, and set up quick-response systems for customer complaints to ensure safety during the rainy season.
The forum, attended by business owners, community leaders, and residents, saw customers raise issues about faulty meters and transformers. Esenwa immediately approved replacements, including six transformers for affected areas, a move that excited many participants.
Wale Aderoju, Chairman of the Lekki Estate Resident and Stakeholders Association’s Infrastructure Committee, praised the engagement, saying, “We continue to cooperate with Eko DisCo to achieve desired service levels while ensuring our communities act as watchmen against vandalism.”
Community representatives also spoke against energy theft. Joseph Idinye of Destiny Homes said, “When somebody is stealing electricity and others look the other way, we all suffer for it. Any tendency to steal electricity is to our own detriment.”
Head of Technical Services, Ovie Adjekpiyede, disclosed that ongoing projects include a new Federal Government-awarded substation for Ibeju-Lekki, the expansion of the Elemoro substation to add 8MW capacity by the end of 2025, and other upgrades to improve supply from Awoyaya to Lakue.
Eko DisCo further explained its complaint resolution channels and payment plan options while reminding customers that energy use typically increases in the ember months. It restated its commitment to safe and reliable service, urging communities to work with the company to protect power infrastructure.
