By Kehinde Aderemi

For members of the Unity Community Development Association (CDA) in Adamo, Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, these are soul-lifting times.

For close to a decade, residents of the area suffered under persistent electricity blackout. And whenever there was public supply of electricity, the light was as dull as candlelight.

But now, the story has changed. Recently, the community inaugurated a new transformer, and the people are excited.

Chairman of the community, Chief Olatunji Ogungbe narrated the community’s ordeal and how the transformer was procured. He said the process began when a company, Golden Land PLC, offered to donate a 300KVA transformer to the community as part of its corporate social responsibility scheme.

“Embarking on the installation of the transformer and all the accessories came with lots of challenges and sacrifice. We have been on this for quite some time now, but today we are happy that we were able to achieve this, in spite of all odds. So I feel happy. I charge all residents of this community to pay all their dues, because this is the only way to keep the members of the executive of the community going in their efforts to develop the community,” ge said.

Ogungbe stated that the community had put all measures in place to maintain the facility: “We have set up a committee that will be in charge of the maintenance and they are to handle all complains and every other issue relating to the sustainability of the project.”

He enjoined members of the CDA to continue to show love, as that was the only condition for success in the community.

Reverend Taiwo Akanbi, pioneer chairman of the CDA, said the installation of a new transformer in the community was fulfilling; he added that the founding members of the executive as well as the present leaders of the community should be appreciated for their efforts in making the CDA the pacesetter among other CDAs in Adamo. He acknowledged the efforts of his successor, the immediate past chairman of the CDA, Mr. Tajudeen Onasanya, and all members of his executive council for embarking on the project.

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“The base for this transformer was erected in 2010. It was seven years of struggle, but today we give all the glory to God for making it possible because at the end of the day, light has prevailed over darkness,” he said.

A prominent community leader and immediate past vice chairman, Mr. Olusesan Okunade, described the project as a success, a landmark achievement for the community, one that came with a lot of challenges. He sought the cooperation of the utility company in charge of the community to help in maintaining the facility.

Okunade noted that it was the duty of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company to take up the responsibility and ensure that those not paying for supply but utilising same were called to order.

“They should do the needful so that all of us can benefit from the services provided on an equal ground. The installation has cost the community over N5 million and there is need for us to enjoy the transformer to the fullest,” he said.

He explained also that the leadership of the CDA had started arrangements to balance the load on the transformer in such a way that every house would be on a single phase, except commercial buildings like hotels, bakeries and others.

Former chairman of Ifelodun CDA Adamo, Mr. Lateef Bakare, said he was elated to join the people of Adamo in celebrating the installation of the power eauipment and urged residents to cooperate with the leadership of the CDA for better development.

Elder Bamidele, Mrs. Yemisi Omokowajo and other residents praised the executive officers of the CDA for their efforts in the development of Adamo.

The launchuing was done by Mrs. Ogunbiyi. Other members of the committee present at the event were Mr. Dele Julius, Akeem Bolaji, Oladele Anjuwon, Olusola Omotoye, Tajudeen Oyewole, Gbenga Fakemi, Mrs. Jude, Tajudeen Adekola, Pastor Ogunkanbi and Alhaji Sokunbi, the chairman of the Joint CDAs in Adamo community.