The Lagos state house of assembly has intervened in the year-long crisis between residents of Royal Gardens Estate, Ajah, and the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC).
The mediation follows a petition by the Royal Gardens Residents’ Association (RGERA), which accused EKEDC and the estate’s developer, Trojan Estates, of infringing on residents’ rights.
In a letter signed by B. Onafeko, clerk of the house, the assembly’s committee on housing invited RGERA representatives to a meeting on Tuesday, September 23, at the assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja.
The session is expected to bring all stakeholders to the table for deliberations on the lingering electricity and governance disputes.
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The dispute came to a head on May 26, 2024, when EKEDC disconnected the estate from the national grid, forcing residents to rely on diesel generators and solar power.
At the centre of the row is the controversial bulk metering system, under which the estate is billed collectively, leaving individuals unable to reconcile their payments.
Residents argue that the system violates the Electricity Act 2023.
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While EKEDC has expressed readiness to switch to direct metering, Trojan Estates has resisted, sparking allegations of manipulation and abuse of authority.
Beyond power supply, the residents accuse the developer of undermining democratic governance in the estate by imposing decisions, stifling their association, and interfering in community projects.
They also cite arbitrary service charges, disconnections despite valid payments, and poor sanitation management.
Earlier attempts by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to resolve the dispute failed after Trojan Estates repeatedly shunned mediation hearings, instead filing a suit at the federal high court in Lagos.
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The case, instituted under Solar Gardens Project Ltd, is before D.I. Dipeolu, a judge.
