Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Thousands of residents of FESTAC Town in Lagos have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) to restore electricity to the sprawling estate or face mass action, following more than eight months of total darkness that has crippled businesses, destroyed livelihoods and driven families to despair. The residents, under the aegis of Take Back FESTAC, staged a protest at EKEDC's headquarters in Marina, Lagos, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, demanding urgent intervention and accusing the electricity company of subjecting them to prolonged blackout, crippling estimated billing, and economic hardship.
Addressing journalists during the protest, President and Convener of Take Back FESTAC, Comrade Valentine Uduebor, said the demonstration was borne out of the collective frustration of residents who had endured months of hardship while waiting for electricity to return. "This protest is not about me; it is about the frustration of my people. We have suffered enough. We have come all the way from FESTAC because our people can no longer continue to live in darkness," he said. Uduebor revealed the extent of the crisis in personal terms: he installed solar power years ago to run his water pump and air conditioner, and bought a ₦40,000 prepaid electricity token over a year ago but has not needed to buy another since because there has been practically no electricity to consume. "I ask myself, how does EKEDC pay salaries? How do they run their offices? How do businesses survive if people are not consuming electricity? It means there is total paralysis," he said.
Uduebor disclosed that residents had earlier accepted EKEDC's request for patience after officials promised that electricity would improve within five months following the completion of a transmission project. "They told us to give them five months. We agreed because we believed them. Those five months have come and gone, yet our people remain in darkness. That is why we are here today," he said. He warned that if electricity was not restored within 48 hours, residents would not be held responsible for whatever communal inconvenience might follow. "People have lived in darkness for over eight months. There is frustration everywhere. There is depression everywhere. We even lost a young man. Small businesses like barber shops, salons, and other artisans can no longer operate because there is no electricity, yet people are still being billed," he said.
Vice President of the group, Chief James Ibeka, explained that the decision by residents to leave FESTAC and protest at the EKEDC headquarters in Marina reflected the severity of the electricity crisis. "For us to leave FESTAC and come all the way to the EKEDC office in Marina is a clear signal that everything about power in FESTAC has collapsed, 100 percent," he said. Ibeka noted that residents sometimes go for three months without having up to two hours of electricity cumulatively. The situation has raised the cost of living, affecting healthcare, food preservation, businesses, and every aspect of life. "People now buy fuel at about ₦1,300 per litre to run generators in their homes, hospitals, shops, and markets. Some families spend at least ₦10,000 every day just to keep generators running," he said.
The residents also accused EKEDC of subjecting consumers without prepaid meters to what they described as unfair estimated billing. A resident, Michael Chukwu, who lives on 41 Road, FESTAC, said households were being charged despite receiving little or no electricity. "To be truthful, they don't give us light. If they do, it is for about one hour or 30 minutes. The painful thing is that we are not on prepaid meters. I pay about ₦15,000 every month. If I don't clear it, another ₦15,000 accumulates. Whether there is electricity or not, the bills keep increasing," he said. He urged EKEDC to provide prepaid meters to residents, arguing that consumers should only pay for electricity they actually consume. The group's Public Relations Officer, Nathaniel Ussi, also called on EKEDC to speed up meter distribution so customers would only pay for electricity actually consumed.
The protest also drew attention to the impact of the blackout on healthcare services. A medical doctor, Dr. Dumebi Owa, said hospitals needed stable electricity to treat patients and carry out surgeries safely, warning that unreliable power supply put lives at risk. She also accused the company of relying on estimated billing while consumers received little electricity. The development has reignited discussions about electricity supply, customer service, and the broader challenges facing Nigeria's power sector. Energy stakeholders have repeatedly emphasized the need for improved infrastructure, regular maintenance, investment in distribution networks, and stronger collaboration between electricity providers, regulators, and consumers to achieve reliable power supply.
The crisis in FESTAC is part of a broader pattern of electricity supply challenges in Lagos. In February 2026, EKEDC downgraded several areas, including FESTAC, from Band A to lower service bands due to a nationwide decrease in power generation, meaning they would receive less electricity each day. In May 2026, the company attributed intermittent power supply in Festac and surrounding areas to a rehabilitation project on a major substation. However, residents say these explanations have done little to alleviate their suffering. The community's frustration has been building for months. In July 2026, residents of 312 Road, Festac Town, cried out that EKEDC had refused to provide them with prepaid meters despite repeated complaints about persistent fraudulent and outrageous monthly estimated electricity bills.
After the protest, about five representatives of the group were invited to meet with EKEDC management behind closed doors. However, company officials did not address journalists after the meeting, and no official response was issued at the end of the protest. As the 48-hour deadline approaches, affected customers are hoping for swift intervention that will restore power, address billing concerns, and rebuild confidence between the electricity distribution company and the communities it serves. For the residents of FESTAC Town, the message is clear: they have waited long enough, and they will no longer accept promises without action.
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