What is wrong with some of the id!ots in this country? Is it Obi that sacked an elected governor of rivers state and house of assembly ? What action did bawala take concerning that?
AmazingGenius: In this report, MUHAMMED LAWAL delves into the daily struggles of residents in a Lagos-Benin Republic border community, where years of power outages have left them without basic necessities
The journey along the dusty roads leading to Kweme Community, located near the Nigeria-Benin border, was an arduous one.
As dusk settled over the community, many individuals turned to various alternatives they had devised to cope with the harsh reality of living without electricity for years.
Our correspondent, who had set out on the journey, struggled to understand how many youths in the area managed to charge their mobile phones to stay connected with the rest of the country and the world.
“Is it true that Nigerians travel to Benin Republic just to charge their phones and fetch water?” the reporter asked a Beninese trader in the area.
The trader, who introduced himself as Misi, explained through a interpreter, “As I speak to you, we have stable power supply, and most Nigerians come here to charge their phones, fetch water, and take care of other needs.
“They patronise us because they do not have electricity, and Nigerian vendors who sell frozen foods cannot preserve their goods,” he added.
As our correspondent arrived in the Kweme community, the quiet, sun-drenched village came into view, with residents fanning themselves outside their houses.
Kweme is an ancient town in the western part of the Badagry Local Government Area in Lagos State.
It is situated along the Nigeria-Benin Republic border at Seme and has political and istrative influence over several villages, including Akoko, Asipa, Irosu, Gedu, Pengo, Topa, Asgbe (Owode), Farasinme, Shito, Gbethrome, Yekeme and Pashi.
Sunday PUNCH learnt that most of these communities have seen little to no significant development in the past decade.
Since 2017, Kweme residents have lived without electricity, leaving thousands of homes in darkness and forcing them to navigate an existence that feels increasingly detached from the modern world.
Aside from Kweme, other border communities such as Farasinme, Asheri, Pashi, Ganme, Alobaten, Gedu and Irosu have also been plunged into total darkness, pushing many residents to find alternative ways to cope with the crisis.
This prolonged blackout has not only negatively impacted residents’ quality of life but has also crippled local businesses.
‘We charge our phones in Benin Republic’
As our correspondent went through Kweme community, it was observed that although the houses lining the streets were inhabited, an unsettling stillness hung in the air.
It was gathered that many Beninese subtly mock their Nigerian neighbours over their prolonged struggle with electricity—humour that underscores the stark energy disparity between the two countries.
“Your government cannot do anything about power supply in your country, yet you call yourselves the ‘Giant of Africa,’” a businesswoman in the community told our correspondent in a sarcastic tone.
Sitting quietly beneath a gazebo was a woman who introduced herself as Hawawu Raji. She explained to our correspondent how the daily hardships caused by the persistent lack of electricity had taken a toll on residents.
“I pay N200 to charge my phone there, and sometimes I take a motorcycle or beg motorists to help me get to the country,” Raji said in a sorrowful tone.
“Benin Republic has an uninterrupted power supply, and whenever they plan to disrupt it, they send a notification to everyone and restore it without delay.”
Hawawu noted that residents in the border community felt like outsiders in their own country.
“There are no companies here for our husbands to work in. We want to start working to them so that we do not become burdens to them,” she added.
She further disclosed that her business had shut down because it relied entirely on electricity, adding that even her fridge had been damaged after being without power for seven years.
“Women in the community have been forced into businesses they shouldn’t have been involved in, just to feed their families,” she said.
An ironic twist
An investigation by Sunday PUNCH revealed that while Nigeria struggles with power outages, it remains a key supplier of electricity to Benin Republic.
Benin, classified under international bilateral electricity customers, receives a constant power supply from Nigeria.
These bilateral electricity customers refer to companies or entities from neighbouring countries that purchase electricity directly from a power grid in another country through a bilateral agreement—essentially buying electricity on a one-on-one basis between the two nations involved.
Last year, the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Sule Abdulaziz, disclosed that Nigeria supplies 24-hour electricity to neighbouring countries Benin and Togo, even as the country faced widespread discussions following a recent power grid collapse.
“We supply Benin, Togo, and Niger. They get power from Nigeria on a 24-hour basis, and they are paying for it,” Abdulaziz stated.
That same year, the Federal Government revealed that Benin and Togo owe Nigeria $14 million for electricity.
While Benin enjoys stable power supply, many parts of Nigeria, including Kweme, continue to experience chronic power outages.
This power disparity has fuelled frustration among Nigerian citizens, who, despite belonging to a power-producing nation, remain deprived of the basic services they desperately need.
Crumbling businesses
The local business community, particularly those selling frozen food, has been devastated by the constant lack of power.
A frozen food vendor in Kweme, Abdullahi Roimot, spoke about the endless difficulties she faced.
“I can barely afford 20 litres of fuel a week just to keep my fridge running and preserve fish,” she noted.
The high cost of fuel is crippling, and often, her goods spoil before she can sell them.
“I have never made a profit,” Roimot itted, her voice tinged with a mixture of pain and resignation.
Her story is not an isolated one, as the lack of electricity has forced countless business owners into debt while they struggle to keep their businesses afloat.
Without power, there are no sales, no income, and no hope for improvement. Many, like Roimot, have found themselves at a breaking point.
“The debt I incurred means I can no longer afford to buy frozen foods. Imagine that the foreign exchange rate is unfavorable, and yet one still loses money,” she said tearfully.
She also shared her recurring medical condition with this reporter.
“I have a health issue that affects me from time to time. The one I experienced recently could have taken my life. There is no power. I was sweating profusely in discomfort, feeling like I was suffocating.”
Roimot’s condition, which often leaves her weak and overheated, becomes a serious threat when there is no electricity, depriving her of the cooling relief of a fan.
“I got up from the bed and lay on the floor, hoping for some relief. But it was still unbearable. The heat just wouldn’t go away,” she said.
According to Roimot, the absence of power makes an already difficult situation even worse.
“If there was electricity, I might not have had to go through all of this. There was no light to power the fan, and without it, everything became much harder to bear.”
Roimot added, “We are only waiting for God to help us out of this situation. There’s nothing more we can do.”
No clean water
According to one of the residents, “The most heartbreaking part of this ordeal is that we are forced to drink from wells due to the lack of pipe-borne water.”
She added that the lack of electricity affects more than just phone charging—it extends to the basic necessity of clean water.
Explaining the extreme measures they take to make their water drinkable, Bashir Abdullahi said, “We drink water from the well, either boiling it or adding alum to purify it.”
Many mornings, they wake up at 3 a.m. to fetch water before the well dries up.
“We also fetch water from Benin Republic because the water here is not drinkable. We have no choice but to boil well water or add alum before drinking it,” he stated.
Similarly, a teacher at one of the public primary schools in the area, Abdullahi Semando, described how the school was equipped with computers meant to enhance learning, but without electricity, the resources remained entirely useless.
He lamented that the children, once hopeful for a brighter future, were left without the tools to succeed.
“Due to the lack of power, we have not been able to use the computers to teach the children, and this is affecting their education. The computers are just sitting in the place where we put them,” Semando said, despair evident in his voice.
Semando further stated that they often travel to Benin Republic to take care of almost everything because of the reliable electricity supply there.
“We charge our phones over there too. We are going through a lot. The government is not focusing on us, as if we are not Nigerians,” he added, his tone filled with hopelessness.
Another resident, Owolara Saheed, described the situation as nothing short of heartbreaking.
“This electricity situation is baffling,” he said, his voice heavy with frustration.
“We have more than 1,000 houses, and they have not had power for eight years. The impact of this ongoing power outage is felt in every aspect of daily life, and the toll it takes on the people is impossible to ignore.
“For many, the only option to survive is to rely on petrol-powered generators. But with the high cost of fuel, even this temporary solution is out of reach for most.”
“We cannot afford to run a generator overnight, considering the minimum wage,” Saheed noted, the weight of his words sinking in.
‘We need govt help’
Lending his voice to the matter, the General Secretary of the Kweme Elders Forum, Awesu Oluwafemi, confirmed to our correspondent that the communities had been without power since August 2017.
The general secretary mentioned that residents travel to Benin Republic to charge their phones and take care of other basic needs.
Oluwafemi added that they rely on well water, as the borehole constructed by the government for the community is no longer functional.
He said, “We do not even have enough social amenities. I do not turn on my television regularly; it is only when my child, who works at a filling station, gives me fuel to power my generator that I turn it on—and that happens only once every two weeks.
“Our king has also spoken on our behalf, but till now, we have not seen any of the promises fulfilled. We have to travel as far as Cotonou or Lagos to buy things like frozen food, and they come at expensive prices. Life is not easy at all. Our roads are also in terrible condition.”
Corroborating the elder’s point, the Youth President of Kweme Kingdom, Raji Uthman, expressed dissatisfaction over the sight of Nigerians forming long queues just to charge their phones in a neighbouring country.
The youth president bemoaned the persistent lack of power in the communities.
He said, “If we had power, there would be no need for us to go to this neighboring country. We have been without electricity in Badagry West for years. As I speak, many youths have relocated from these areas because the power outage has severely impacted their businesses and daily lives.
“Imagine that I have not been able to use the electric appliances in my house for years. Buying fuel is now extremely expensive. Whenever someone manages to afford fuel, the entire community gathers there.
“People are poor and cannot afford to run their generators, which is why they seek alternatives everywhere. Business owners have been severely affected by the lack of power—many have shut down completely and are now struggling to survive.
“The government should come to our aid, as some communities in the state have electricity while we remain in darkness. It feels as though we are not even considered part of Nigeria. Power is crucial for the growth and development of every community.”
Criminals run rampant
Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos West, Davis Sunday, stated that the entire Badagry West had been in darkness for years.
He added that several efforts had been made to restore electricity, but all had been unsuccessful.
Sunday said, “Some of the communities close to Benin Republic go there to charge their phones and take care of other basic needs. This is a fact. Although stakeholders have made efforts to restore power, the Lagos State House Committee on Energy also visited the site of the electricity issue and inspected areas around Igbaji Bridge, where vandals had cut cables.
“We’ve been promised that something would be done soon, but till now, we haven’t seen any action. The darkness is really affecting us. We don’t have good roads or electricity. There’s no government intervention, except for what the local government provides.”
Sharing his displeasure, another youth leader, Agbomenu Sejiro, lamented the worsening situation.
“The lack of electricity has made it easy for criminals to steal cables,” he stated.
A social advocate in Badagry community, Manoah Kikekon, noted that since the power was disconnected, vandals had been targeting communities, stealing transformer cables and other electrical components.
He said, “An example is Wayingbeme, a community just after Suntan Beach. The power lines before the community have been removed, and the community’s transformer is now practically empty, as all valuables have been stolen.
“Over time, concerned residents have raised the alarm, but nothing has been done because it is believed that the area will not generate the required revenue. That’s why there has been no response to our requests.”
The same lagos that is the ronus heaven on earth no get water not to talk of steady light
From all actions of the Igbos, one thing is constant.
They act first before they think of the consequences, that's the main reason y nnamdi kanu will always b a bad leader cos he's highly emotional.
Good leaders are never emotional
It takes a little thing to deceive you ronus. Why is it so?
Can you show us the video or audio recording why Kanu was seen or heard apologising? You lots should stop these una lies and propaganda for once.
Glimpsetv:
Some residents of Natasha's constituency have spoken out about how they were tricked into attending an empowerment program, only to be asked for their Voter’s Card and signatures upon arrival.
In interviews, several residents explained that they were not informed of the real purpose of the gathering. It was only when they arrived at the venue that they were asked to provide their Voter’s Card and signatures. Some of them strongly refused and walked away.
Earlier today, some Ebira youths were filmed addressing a group of people who had unknowingly queued up for the exercise after being paid. They cursed those who accepted the money and went ahead to sign.
Babangida said Gen Ironsi’s actions confirmed the Igb0 domination agenda rumours
Ok una number one enemy is now right because he said something that is Igbo related
These ronus will never cease to amaze me
Oga it doesn't matter how una (eboola ronus) wan twist am. The coup remains awolowo/yoruba coup simple.
Let us end the bloodletting between herders and farmers.
Killings by herdsmen followed by reprisals by farmers without any recourse to the police is now becoming the norm in Nigeria. It has become a vicious cycle with no end in sight and corpses are piling up.
Everybody seem to know by now that ranching of cattle is the only way out to stop the unnecessary waste of lives but the gray area to be sorted out is where to site the ranches. It is clear by now that the people generally will not allow the federal or state governments to take over lands for distribution or allocation to herders. Whether in the North or the South, herders have to sort out themselves. We have indigent Fulani in Yoruba land for instance and they will find space or land in Yoruba land, North and South because they have always been there. It is the same way it should be for all Fulani. In fact, all of them can ranch their cattle in the North and purchase vehicles to be gathering hay for them from all over Nigeria. It is not a difficult task at all and it is the only way out.
Herders should be given a deadline after which open grazing will be banned and any cattle found grazing openly will become government property. The law can be made by the federal government or individual states.There are replicas of such a law across the world and Nigeria will not be the first to the law.
The government can give the herders one year to sort themselves out. It is the only way to end the needless bloodletting. When cattle are not grazed all over the place but fed and watered on one spot they will grow faster on less feed.
Why are you lying, what will you benefit from lies and propaganda? You and I know very well that we only have Fulani herdsmen killing farmers on a daily. There is nothing like "farmers herders clash" don't bring that rubbish to us again we know the truth.
1. It's so easy to deceive you fellas...Adeboye didn't protest against GEJ. Before you go and that viral picture where he was holding a placard and bare your arrogance for all to see, here is the video on Channels YouTube channel https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pkay0hqPn5A&pp=0gcJCfcAhR29_xXO of the prayer walk against insecurity organised by CAN that held 5 years ago. Calm down and ask yourself, who was president at that time- Buhari not GEJ. Even GEJ has never referenced this your tales by moonlight B.S.
2. You don't get to legislate what a man as old as Adeboye does or does not do. All this he should protest bla bla...leg dey pain you to waka protest?
3. @OP just like MightySparrow said this has nothing to do with Adeboye as a person because the RCCG over time has being able to raise men in various fields by evangelism. "To have one person from every family on earth" as part of their mission statement plus the plethora of their parishes that dot our landscape is the result we see today. Even during Buharis time there were RCCG holding different positions in government! So breathe easy cos there is a 40milliin hip drive by 2032 going on!
It doesn't matter how you twist the narrative. Adeboye is partial him and woke Soyinka and other top yoruba men, was among the people that led series of protests against GEJ.
With all the oil you people will still run to other people's region. Make una dey there dey drag tribe as if one kobo of the oil money go reach you.
When you lots were shouting "ondo oil is bigger than the one in SE" you never knew that one kobo of the oil no go reach you. Na now you know because jealousy don set in.
What’s stoping you or other of your family from leading a protest?
The truth is that you yorbads hate SS too much but, una dey use pretence dey follow them. Obj cleared odi, adeboye and other yorbads protested against GEJ and tinibu declared SOE in rivers. Why is it so?
MightySparrow:
I don't really get your point. The way RCCG conducts their evangelism is the reason not the man Adeboye but the system.
How do you think about traditional rulers forming a choir to sing in Adeboye's programmes? Do you really think he goes to every palace?
The man has put in place mechanisms to bring high and mighy as well as common people to his church. He once said he personally preached to Abdulsalami Abubakar and gave him a copy of the Bible. He did that while Abubakar was head of state. How many preachers would do that? What if Abubakar had changed faith through his visit?
It is all about doing his job well.
Since he's doing his job well according to what you said, why haven't he said something about this government or, lead a protest the way he did against GEJ?
Why will the senate chambers and security council discuss it, when it did not happen in SE? They pray and want it to happen in SE before they can take action.
Bestmanfornow:
When you combine Ondo and Lagos oil production equal to Anambra oil production
Ok, you have changed tone it's no longer oil in ondo is bigger than the oil in the whole SE together
What will now happen if we combine Abia and imo states?
Fejoku:
Many people still don't get what exactly is happening in Nigeria. They really still think Nigeria is a country and can't see that they're just in slave camps with different levels of slavers. The main slavers are in 10 Downing Street, their on-site managers are 1804 invaders who have resumed their age long march for total control using the instrumentality of the mock government of Nigeria. Tinubu just like anyone who agrees to do their bidding is allowed on board to in the feasting on the land. If that person can cut a huge chunk off the delicacy for his constituency without troubling the original plans anď intents of 10 Downing street slavers, he won't be touched. People like Wike are willing tools who really think they have a chance to make it to that position where they can wield the knife to cut the chunk they want. Unfortunately, they don't seem to get it that a specific marker is used to determine those that won't be allowed close to that chunk cutting position. They're at best used to destroy their own people further. Unfortunately, they'll only realize it when it is late. They will be used and tossed away like diry tissue paper. The most unfortunate of all are the people who in their suffering still choose to believe the lie called Nigeria. They think she was created for their own good but can't seem to understand why the police, army and judiciary are always against them and whatever good that should come their way. It's a very painful situation.
Rivers state is on her way to get another colonialist from the West side with Wike as a disposable ally. Will our people sit back and watch the new invaders get a strangle hold on our land? Only time will tell.
Honestly I don't know that there are intelligent people here now I know. What you posted is nothing but the reality.
Just imagine the useless thread he created to cause more acrimony && tension, thinking that State of emergency will bring " calm down" & peace https://nairaland.moviesx.org/8372759/fg-should-considering-state-emergency
Exactly what am saying. I don't know if the case of this helinues guy is bigger than Seun and fergie001
You are fooling yourself as if you care about what happens to the Deltans.
You were rejoicing when the Supreme court of injustice delivered their money bag judgement.
You were clapping when the 28 wayward assembly löcked SIM out of the assembly complex.
See Mr helinues, you are thesame creature that opened a thread asking Bobo Chicago to declare a state of emergency in Rivers & yoir only concern is my smiley emojis
When all these injustices where been pepetrated, SIM was followimg the Proklamation of the Supreme Court of injustice despite been highly flawed while you & your goons were hailing Wike.
Not every human is a creature of the human race. Some are animals in human Form
I hope Seun and fergie001 is taking note of what helinues is doing on this forum. What helinues is doing on this forum is capable of causing a war.
Do you even understand the meaning of major arguments sha?
This is pettiness raised to power 16 oo
What do we call that? You came and said that tinibu is the best president in Africa and people, started arguing that and you said it's not a major argument. How is it not a major argument?
Don't be boring. I challenged you in something. Respond or stop talking
I don't understand you, what do you mean by what you just said now?
You said I should mention just one single argument we "wailers"has ever won over you and I told you the one you said tinibu is the best president in Africa. The next thing is you became hostile to me. Why? you called me a wailer and I overlooked it. Seun and fergie001 should really look into your case. You shouldn't be banning people here at will when you are not clean and innocent.
Notasyouthink: 6:57pm On Mar 25
