BY: Manoah Kikekon
The people of Okuju Aragadun Community, in
Badagry, Lagos State. Lamented 12 years electricity outage, and pleaded for support from
the government and well to do individuals.
In an exclusive interview with News Peddlers
Mr. Oluwafemi Abraham, the Community Development Area (CDA) Chairman said the
community has sent several letters to all offices that can help but “nobody
seems to hear our cry".
"For the past 12 years, we have been
struggling to have electricity here, there’s is no office we have not visited
in Alausa Ikeja secretariat, we had even written letters to Abuja likewise
Olorunda local government chairman. Virtually no leader in Badagry can say they
have not received our letter but nothing has been done to date.
"In response to this, the community decided to
contribute money to buy transformer and also erected electricity poles but
could not afford to buy the cables.
"We just struggled to buy a transformer for ourselves, which cost us 3.9million. we likewise erected all these poles with our money all we need now are the cables for connecting the light," he said.
Speaking with the Mr Adebayo Thomas Olabode
the financial secretary of Okuju Aradagun CDA told News Peddlers that he never believed
he could reside in a place for the past 12 years without electricity. Despite
paying tax promptly.
"As a person, I don’t believe I can be in a
place for the past 12 years and there’s no light. From all our letters to the
government offices so far we never got a response, the governor has signed but
no effect.
"I think that is the highest place we can
forward our request believing that there should be a prompt response. The
government is to take care of the people but unfortunately, we don’t know our
offence.
"The government should assist us we only need
the cables to connect the light meanwhile is not as if we are not doing our
responsibility to the government, we pay tax promptly in this area which is
part of what they should use to take care of the people," he said.
Stating further that if the community could do all they have done themselves that shows they are not lazy, he pleaded for assistance which will give the residents a sense of belonging as a citizen.
"There’s no way the community can forget the government
that comes to our aid at this difficult time." He added
Meanwhile, the community appreciate the Lagos State government and also the Ministry of Environment for the clearing of the waterway that is going on in the area currently