Investigation: Lagos Residents Decry Months of Power Outages as Businesses Collapse in Ojo Communities

By Joseph Okafor Afam, Publisher, SpringNewsNG Media Limited
Story: written by springnewsng March 13,2026
Residents and business owners in several communities in Ojo area of Lagos State are raising alarm over what they describe as a prolonged electricity crisis that has crippled livelihoods and forced many small businesses to shut down.
An investigation by SpringNewsNG Media Limited revealed that areas including Oba community, Olayemi Street, and Iyana School within Iba Estate near Ojo Barracks have experienced extremely poor electricity supply since November 2025.
Residents say the persistent blackout has led to severe economic hardship, particularly for traders whose businesses depend heavily on electricity to preserve goods.
One resident of Olayemi Street, who spoke with our correspondent, said the situation has become unbearable for business operators.
“We hardly see electricity anymore. Since November last year, the supply has been very poor. Many of us who sell frozen food, meat, fish and other perishables are running at serious losses,” the resident said.
According to him, several traders dealing in frozen chicken, fish, beef and other food products have lost large quantities of stock due to the inability to keep their goods preserved.
“The lack of electricity has destroyed many businesses here. Some people who sell frozen foods have already closed their shops because they cannot afford the daily cost of fuel,” he added.
Pharmacy operators in the area also expressed concern that the unstable power supply is affecting the storage of certain medications that require refrigeration.
A pharmacist in Iba Estate explained that maintaining drug quality has become increasingly difficult.
“Some drugs require constant cooling. Without stable electricity, we are forced to run generators every day. The cost of fuel is eating deep into our profits,” the pharmacist said.
Restaurant and food vendors are equally struggling to stay afloat. A food seller who operates a small restaurant near Iyana School said the cost of running a generator daily has drastically reduced her earnings.
“We spend a huge part of our income buying petrol just to keep drinks cold and preserve food ingredients. If electricity was stable, our profit would be much better,” she lamented.
Hotel operators in the area also confirmed that the situation is severely affecting the hospitality business. According to a local hotel manager, the cost of diesel used to power generators has become a major financial burden.
“Hotels cannot operate without electricity. Guests expect air conditioning, lighting and other services. We now spend heavily on diesel almost every day, and it is affecting our business,” the manager said.
Residents further argued that the persistent electricity shortage has contributed to the rising cost of food items in local markets because traders now factor generator fuel costs into their selling prices.
Some community members also criticized authorities for what they described as inadequate response to the growing hardship faced by citizens.
Many residents believe both federal and state authorities must take urgent action to address the power crisis affecting communities across Lagos.
Nigeria’s electricity sector has long struggled with inadequate generation, transmission challenges, and distribution inefficiencies, leaving millions of citizens dependent on generators for daily power needs.
Community leaders in Ojo are now calling on the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Lagos State Government to intervene and ensure stable electricity supply to affected areas.
Energy experts say improving national grid capacity, investing in alternative energy solutions, and strengthening electricity distribution infrastructure are critical steps toward solving Nigeria’s persistent power challenges.
For residents of Oba, Olayemi, and Iyana School communities, however, the need for action is immediate.
“We cannot continue like this,” another trader said. “If the electricity situation does not improve soon, more businesses will collapse.”