Residents of Adabale Street in Oworonshoki, Lagos, have raised alarm over the imminent danger posed by dangerously leaning electricity poles at No. 4 and No. 6 Adabale Street, blaming the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) for negligence.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Chairman of Oworonshoki Electricity, Mr. Seun Gbogboade, accused IKEDC of gross negligence, stating that the company has repeatedly ignored reports and complaints about the faulty poles for over a year.
“This electricity pole is a death trap,” Gbogboade said. “We have lodged several complaints with IKEDC. Each time, they promise to fix it, but nothing has been done. The situation is now life-threatening to residents of the affected buildings and the entire street.”
Gbogboade described the current state of the poles as hazardous, warning that immediate action must be taken before lives are lost.
In the official statement, he wrote:
“We are formally reporting a grave threat to the lives and properties of citizens in Oworonshoki, Lagos, due to IKEDC’s failure to act.”
He narrated that during a heavy rainfall on May 20, 2025, the pole at No. 4 Adabale Street shook violently, causing live wires to become dangerously strained across the street.
“This has placed residents, especially children who play nearby, in serious danger. Adabale Street is home to multi-tenant buildings with over 20 children, making the threat even more alarming.”
Gbogboade noted that despite visiting the IKEDC office at Oworonshoki Undertaking in Gbagada multiple times and engaging with their staff, no effort has been made to repair or replace the poles.
He further emphasized that Oworonshoki has suffered multiple tragedies in the past due to poor electricity infrastructure, referencing:
- A 2023 incident where a house on Oworo Road was destroyed by fire after a spark from a faulty electricity pole.
- A tragedy 15 years ago on Onabanjo Street, where eight lives were lost when a fallen wire landed on a generator, causing electrocution.
“These disasters could have been prevented if IKEDC had proactively maintained their infrastructure,” Gbogboade stated.
He urgently appealed to the Nigerian Police and relevant authorities to hold IKEDC accountable should any tragedy occur as a result of the neglected poles.
“We respectfully request the Nigerian Police to invite IKEDC for questioning and ensure they fulfill their obligation to protect our community. We demand a total replacement of the three damaged poles at No. 4 and 6, Adabale Street, Oworonshoki.”