The Power Wahala in My Area, Ondo Town

If you are living in Ondo town like me, you will understand the wahala we dey face with NEPA light. The light is not stable at all, it is just off and on like Christmas music light bulb for December and new year festive. Sometimes you go see light for just 20 minute, before you blink eye they have taken it again.

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The biggest problem come happen when our transformer burn. That day, people rush out shouting because everywhere smell like smoke everywhere Since that time, no electricity in our area. We report to NEPA office, they keep promising they will bring another transformer. We waited, and waited, until 7 months pass before new one arrive. Imagine living in dark for that long, it was not easy at all.

When they finally bring in transformer, we thought everything is going to be better, but na another story. The transformer they give us was very small capacity. Anytime we put on fan or iron, the current just drop. Sometimes bulb no even bright, just like candle light. People started complaining, youths shouting on the street, complains here and there from all this artisians to the minerals and pure water seller.

At last, the landlords in the community gather together for meeting. After plenty argument and shouting, they agree everybody will contribute money. Even tenants join. From that contribution we buy new transformer ourselves, one that can carry the whole area. Since then, at least the light improved small, even though NEPA still do their off and on as always they did.

This whole caucus show me one thing in Nigeria, sometimes community have to provide and solve their own problem because waiting for government is like planting a kolanut seed till you want reap the fruit or NEPA is like waiting for rain in desert. If not for the landlords and street youth shouting, maybe we will still be in darkness till today.