By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Abigi, Ogun State — As Nigeria marked the 2025 International Children’s Day on Tuesday, May 27, the celebration in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area came with a stark reminder of the deep-rooted infrastructural decay haunting the region: ten consecutive years without electricity.
Hon. Fatai Adenaya Modawoni, the Assistant Financial Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ogun State and former State Assembly candidate for the Waterside Constituency, used the occasion not only to felicitate with children but to amplify the community’s cry for help over the decade-long power outage.
Addressing journalists in Abigi, the administrative headquarters of Ogun Waterside, Hon. Modawoni expressed solidarity with children across Ogun State and Nigeria, wishing them success in both academic and social pursuits. But his message carried a heavier tone when he turned to the local crisis that has kept Waterside residents in the dark—literally.
“This should be a day of joy for children, but how do we celebrate properly when our communities have been left behind in darkness for ten years?” he asked. “Electricity is not a privilege—it is a fundamental social amenity. A good life deserves it.”
Hon. Modawoni revealed that the blackout began around 2015 due to a technical fault in the transmission infrastructure serving the area. Despite repeated appeals to the government and electricity distribution companies, the problem remains unresolved.
“Businesses have folded, hospitals depend on costly generators, and students can barely study under candlelight,” he said. “This is not just a power issue; it’s a developmental emergency.”
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Ogun Waterside, situated in the southeastern belt of the state bordering Ondo and Lagos, is rich in aquatic resources and blessed with untapped tourism potential. However, residents say the absence of electricity has stifled economic growth, deepened insecurity, and forced many youths to abandon the area for more developed urban centers.
“The government must act swiftly to reconnect this constituency to the national grid. We are tired of empty promises,” Hon. Modawoni stressed.
His comments align with growing public outcry under social media campaigns such as #BringBackOurLight and #JusticeForOgunWaterside, which have drawn national attention to the area’s plight.
As officials from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and Ogun State Ministry of Energy remain silent, residents say they are considering peaceful protests to demand action.
For now, Hon. Modawoni’s voice adds renewed urgency to the calls for intervention—a reminder that true celebration of children’s futures must include investing in the basic infrastructure that empowers them.
“Children cannot dream big in the dark. If we are serious about their future, we must light their path—literally,” he reiterated.
