Flood plunges Lagos, Osun communities into darkness

Residents of several communities in Lagos and Osun states have been left without electricity after heavy rainfall caused flooding that disrupted power infrastructure.

The development came as persistent rainfall continued to wreak havoc in parts of the country, flooding roads and affecting critical infrastructure.

This, however, prompted the Eko Electricity Distribution Company and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company to announce outages.

In a statement seen by PUNCH Metro on Thursday, EKEDC said electricity supply to parts of its network was reduced following outages on the Oshogbo-Ikeja 330kV and Benin-Egbin 330kV transmission lines, resulting in load shedding across some of its business units.

The affected communities include Chevy View Estate, Chevron Drive, Agungi, Alpha Beach, Ikate, Elegushi, Carlton Gate, Kusenla, Victory Park Estate, Oniru, Maroko, Muri Okunola, Ajose Adeogun, Ligali Ayorinde, parts of Aboyade Cole, Morinho Drive, Landmark Road, Igbo Efon, Lekki Tollgate 2, Igbokusu, Gbangbala, Platinum Way, Jakande/Coastal Road, OADC/Mayegun, Ajiran, Chevron Alternative Area and Osapa London.

“The outage is due to disruptions on the national grid caused by the failure of the Oshogbo-Ikeja and Benin-Egbin 330kV transmission lines. Some business units may experience load shedding.

“Cause: Grid disruption. Oshogbo/Ikeja 330kV line is down. Benin/Egbin 330kV line is down. Impact: Reduction in grid allocation,” the statement read.

The EKEDC stated that it was working with the national grid operator to restore electricity supply as soon as the affected transmission lines were back in service.

“We are in constant contact with the national grid operator and will restore supply as soon as the lines are back. Thank you for your patience,” the company stated.

Similarly, IBEDC said a heavy rainstorm flooded the Ilerin Injection Substation in Osun State, disrupting electricity supply to several communities.

According to the company, the flooding affected the Isare 11kV, Irogbo 11kV and Mount Carmel 11kV feeders, leaving residents of Ifewara, Iwara, Bolorunduro, Irogbo, Ayeso, Odo-Oro, Wesley, Express Area, Ilerin, Irojo, Olomilagbala, Iwikun, Isare and neighbouring communities without power.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency had earlier warned that Lagos, Osun and several other states were among areas vulnerable to flooding during the peak of the rainy season and urged residents and authorities to take precautionary measures.

In a viral video seen by our correspondent on Thursday, a transformer was seen collapsing into floodwaters after its foundation was weakened by flooding.

The location where it happened could not be ascertained as of the time this report was filed.(Punch)