Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Residents of Lagos and Ogun states are expressing growing frustration over prolonged electricity outages, as unreliable power supply combines with intense heat to disrupt household activities, threaten small businesses and make sleeping conditions increasingly uncomfortable.
The worsening situation has triggered street protests in parts of Lagos, with residents demanding urgent intervention from electricity distribution companies and relevant government authorities.
On Thursday, November 5, 2026, hundreds of residents of Somolu, Lagos State, took to the streets to protest persistent blackouts, calling for the immediate restoration of electricity. The demonstration came two days after residents of Lagos Island staged a similar protest over inadequate power supply and rising temperatures.
The protests reflect mounting public dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s electricity situation, particularly as households and businesses struggle to cope with the cost of alternative energy sources.
Somolu Residents Protest Prolonged Electricity Outages
Residents of Somolu expressed their frustration through a street demonstration, demanding an improvement in electricity supply after experiencing prolonged power interruptions.
Videos circulating online showed protesters marching through the community while displaying placards and chanting against the continued blackouts.
Some of the placards carried messages including “Give us light” and “Our businesses are dying.”
The protesters were also heard chanting, “They want to kill us with heat; we will not allow heat to kill us,” highlighting their concerns about the combination of high temperatures and unreliable electricity.
The demonstration followed a protest by residents of Lagos Island on Tuesday, November 3, who also demanded improved electricity supply.
Residents from communities including Lewis, Okesuna, Beecroft, Simpson and Sandgrouse streets reportedly participated in the Lagos Island demonstration.
The protests have drawn attention to the difficulties facing electricity consumers across Lagos, where prolonged outages have affected domestic activities, commercial operations and access to essential services. Punch Newspapers +1
Households Struggle as Electricity Supply Deteriorates
The impact of the outages has been particularly difficult for residents who depend on electricity for cooling, food preservation and other everyday activities.
In Berger, Lagos, Tolani Adewunmi, a factory worker, said electricity supply in her neighbourhood had deteriorated significantly.
She explained that residents previously enjoyed approximately 20 hours of electricity daily but were now receiving considerably fewer hours.
According to her, the situation had affected her ability to sleep comfortably and prepare for work, particularly as temperatures remained high.
Adewunmi also questioned why customers classified under Band A, who are expected to receive a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily, were reportedly receiving fewer than three hours of supply in some instances.
In Somolu, another resident identified as Ahmed said electricity that previously lasted approximately 10 hours daily had become increasingly unreliable.
He reported that residents sometimes struggled to enjoy even 40 minutes of uninterrupted electricity.
Ahmed warned that the situation was affecting businesses and could expose children and other vulnerable residents to additional difficulties during the hot weather.
The complaints illustrate the challenges facing households that rely on electricity not only for comfort but also for essential domestic and economic activities.
Ogun Residents Also Complain About Persistent Blackouts
The electricity challenges extend beyond Lagos, with residents of neighbouring Ogun State also reporting unreliable supply.
Abdulsalam Balikis, a resident of Ewupe in Sango-Ota, described electricity supply in her community as poor, rating the service four out of 10.
She said residents did not have a consistent electricity schedule and sometimes experienced prolonged interruptions.
According to her, electricity was occasionally available for fewer than four hours after being restored.
She also highlighted the difficulties residents faced charging their mobile phones and accessing water, particularly where pumping systems depended on electricity.
The situation demonstrates how electricity shortages can affect several aspects of daily life, especially in communities where households depend on electrically powered water systems.
Blackouts Force Families to Change Daily Routines
For many households, prolonged electricity interruptions have forced changes to food preparation, storage and other domestic routines.
In Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos, a resident identified as Opeyemi said her community had experienced particularly poor electricity supply during the week.
She explained that the last time electricity was available in her neighbourhood was on Saturday, when supply lasted approximately one hour.
The situation forced her to stop relying on her freezer for food preservation.
Instead, she said she now prepares only the quantity of food that can be consumed within a day to avoid losses caused by unreliable refrigeration.
An elderly resident of Isolo, identified as Mrs Siyanbade, said her neighbourhood had experienced more than two weeks without electricity.
She disclosed that she had been visiting commercial phone-charging centres to keep her devices powered.
She also described difficulties accessing water, explaining that residents sometimes had to purchase petrol to operate generators for water pumping.
The additional expenses have placed further pressure on households already struggling with the cost of living.
For families with children, the outages have also complicated evening routines, including preparing children for school and carrying out household activities after sunset.
Ikorodu Resident Reports More Than Two Months of Disruption
The situation has also affected residents of Ikorodu, where a National Youth Service Corps member, Olamiposi Yetunde, reported that electricity interruptions in her area had continued for more than two months.
She said the poor supply had affected food preservation, charging electronic devices and ironing clothes needed for work.
Yetunde explained that she sometimes had to borrow a neighbour’s generator and purchase petrol simply to pump water.
Her experience highlights the difficulties facing residents who cannot afford to maintain alternative electricity arrangements.
The additional cost of purchasing petrol, combined with the time spent seeking alternative power sources, has made ordinary household activities more expensive and inconvenient.
Resident Reports Spending ₦10,000 Daily on Petrol
The financial consequences of unreliable electricity are also evident in Arepo, Ogun State.
Anawo Victor, an accountant living in Journalist Estate Phase 1, Arepo, rated electricity supply in his neighbourhood 15 out of 100.
He said the community previously enjoyed between 20 and 22 hours of electricity daily but now sometimes experienced outages lasting as long as two days.
Victor disclosed that he had been spending approximately ₦10,000 daily on petrol to keep his refrigerator running and prevent stored food from spoiling.
He also complained about the absence of clear explanations regarding the electricity interruptions.
His experience reflects the growing financial burden placed on households that depend on generators to maintain basic services during prolonged blackouts.
In Alagbado, Lagos, another resident, Anuoluwapo Olurunshuye, said electricity supply had deteriorated following a fault in the area.
She reported that residents sometimes received only about 30 minutes of electricity at night.
Olurunshuye said she eventually purchased a solar power system to reduce the discomfort caused by the heat and maintain access to electricity for charging electronic devices.
She also said an electricity official had attributed the situation to insufficient power generation.
NISO Attributes Reduced Electricity Supply to Gas Shortages and Low Water Levels
Amid the complaints, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has identified inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric plants as major factors behind the decline in electricity generation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, the operator explained that insufficient gas supplies had prevented some thermal generating stations from operating at their available capacity.
It also identified reduced water inflows into hydroelectric reservoirs as another factor affecting electricity generation.
According to NISO, the combined challenges have reduced the volume of electricity available for distribution companies, forcing them to adjust supply schedules and increase load shedding across their networks.
The operator explained that the impact varies among distribution companies depending on available generation and their respective electricity allocations.
NISO acknowledged the difficulties facing electricity consumers nationwide and said it was working to manage available generation, maintain grid stability and improve the resilience of the national electricity system.
The explanation highlights the challenges facing Nigeria’s electricity sector, which relies significantly on gas-fired thermal power stations alongside hydroelectric facilities.
However, the national generation constraints do not necessarily explain every local outage, particularly where communities report specific distribution faults and prolonged delays in repairs. Punch Newspapers +1
Ikeja Electric Apologises Over Band A Supply Shortfall
The electricity challenges have also affected customers who pay higher tariffs under Nigeria’s Band A service classification.
Ikeja Electric apologised to customers on some Band A feeders after failing to meet the minimum daily electricity supply requirement of 20 hours on November 3 and 4, 2026.
The distribution company communicated its apology through a notice published on its official X account on Thursday, November 5.
The company expressed regret over its inability to deliver the expected minimum service level to customers on the affected feeders.
The development has raised further concerns about electricity service accountability, particularly among customers paying higher tariffs based on specified supply-hour commitments.
Band A customers are expected to receive a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily, making the reported shortfall a significant concern for affected households and businesses.
However, Ikeja Electric’s notice concerned specified feeders and should not be interpreted as confirmation that every Band A customer across its franchise area experienced the same disruption. Punch Newspapers
Lagos Government Warns Residents About Extreme Heat
The electricity complaints have emerged alongside warnings from the Lagos State Government about potentially intense heat conditions.
On November 1, 2026, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, advised residents to prepare for possible extreme temperatures as the dry season approaches and El Niño conditions strengthen.
He urged residents to remain hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, wear light clothing and limit strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest hours.
The commissioner also highlighted the importance of clean drinking water, shaded spaces and proper ventilation, particularly for vulnerable groups.
According to the state government, Lagos’ dense population, extensive built-up neighbourhoods and limited green spaces can intensify the urban heat effect.
The advisory has added to public concerns because unreliable electricity makes it difficult for households to operate fans and air conditioners during periods of high temperatures.
TheCable also reported the government’s warning about the potential health implications of extreme heat, including dehydration and other heat-related challenges. TheCable +1
Why the Electricity Crisis Matters
The latest protests and complaints from Lagos and Ogun residents highlight the wider economic and social consequences of unreliable electricity supply in Nigeria.
For households, prolonged blackouts affect food preservation, access to water, communication, education and basic comfort.
Small businesses are particularly vulnerable because many depend on electricity to operate equipment, preserve products and provide services.
Food vendors, restaurants, provision shops, salons and refrigeration businesses may experience financial losses when electricity interruptions affect their operations.
Businesses that rely on generators are also forced to spend additional money on petrol and diesel, increasing their operating costs.
These expenses can eventually translate into higher prices for consumers.
The situation also creates difficulties for students and workers who depend on electricity to charge electronic devices, study and complete professional responsibilities.
Beyond the economic implications, prolonged blackouts during periods of intense heat raise concerns about the wellbeing of children, older people and other vulnerable residents.
Nigeria’s electricity challenges therefore require more than temporary restoration of supply. They demand improvements in gas availability, generation capacity, transmission infrastructure, distribution networks and maintenance arrangements.
What Happens Next?
NISO says it is working to manage available electricity generation and maintain grid stability despite the constraints affecting thermal and hydroelectric power stations.
Electricity distribution companies will also face continued pressure to communicate clearly with affected communities, address local faults and meet the service standards attached to their customer categories.
For residents of Lagos and Ogun, the immediate demand remains straightforward: reliable electricity and clear explanations when supply is interrupted.
The protests in Somolu and Lagos Island demonstrate the growing frustration among consumers who say they are struggling to cope with prolonged blackouts during increasingly uncomfortable weather conditions.
Whether the situation improves will depend on how quickly the constraints affecting electricity generation are addressed and how effectively distribution companies resolve problems within their networks.
For thousands of affected households and businesses, the priority is no longer simply receiving assurances about electricity supply but experiencing a meaningful improvement in the service.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch Newspapers – Lagos, Ogun Residents Groan as Blackout Worsens Heat (November 6, 2026).
- Punch Newspapers – Gas Shortages, Low Water Levels Reduce Power Generation – NISO (November 5, 2026).
- TheCable – NISO Blames Gas Supply Constraints, Low Water Levels for Power Generation Decline (November 5, 2026).
- Pulse Nigeria – Give Us Light, the Heat Is Killing Us – Lagos Residents Protest Blackout as State Warns of Extreme Heat (November 3, 2026).
- TheCable – Stay Hydrated, Wear Light Clothes – Lagos Issues Advisory Over El Niño Conditions (November 2, 2026).
