The lieutenant governor said he was charged an astounding N29 million power in April, up from N2.7 million in March.
Lagos State’s lieutenant governor, Obafemi Hamzat, issued an alarm by the electricity distributor about what’s called “crazy bills,” revealing that his official home has increased from N2.7 million in March on the staggering N29 million power bill in April.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion between the Lagos State Government and the Rural Electricity Agency (REA) held on Monday in Victoria Island, Hamzat said power provider Eko Power Distribution Company (EKEDC) also frustrated its efforts to install prepaid meters despite payments.
“I’m a very good example,” he said. “Last month, the official residence bill was N2.7 million. This month, Eko Disco sent N29 million bills. I sent it to the Energy Commissioner. It’s crazy.
Hamzat, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwol at the event, said the arbitrary power bill issue has affected not only well-known officials but also everyday Lagosians.
He cited the case of Srilele, a resident of Coker Aguda, who was issued a bill of N2.8 million.
“Our people suffer by estimating claims,” Hamzat said.
The event marked the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Lagos State and the REA to “sola rice” rural communities throughout the state.
Biodun Ogunleye, the Energy and Mineral Resources Commissioner, has welcomed the partnership as a major step towards stable electricity for underserved communities.
“There’s an opportunity for people who didn’t think they’d experience constant and stable electricity,” Ogunley said.
REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu said the agency has identified several communities to benefit from the rural electrification programme, including a proposal to build an 8-megawatt floating solar power plant at Lagos University, waiting for state government approval.
Sanwo-Olu vows to end its presumed claims
Just a few days ago, at the Lagos Commodity and Futures Exchange Conference, Governor Sanwol (also known as Hamzatt) held at the Onikan State Maisson Centre, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to end presumed claims and energy sector overhauls.
“We’ll introduce new meters to eliminate estimated claims and provide accurate electricity rates,” he said, emphasizing that decentralisation of generation is an important pillar of the state’s new energy laws.
He said Lagos aims to become a model for power market transformation in Africa, with plans to attract investments using capital market commodities such as energy bonds and electricity purchase agreements.
“The goal is to ensure that all residents have access to reliable electricity, reduce reliance on generators, and clean the environment. It’s a victory for everyone,” he added.
Ogunleye has also announced the Clean Lagos Electricity Market Initiative, designed to eradicate blackouts and increase power capacity by building five new energy hubs throughout the state.
Legal fight and protest against “Crazyville”
The lieutenant governor’s lament highlights the unrated nature of arbitrary power claims burden through presumed claims against consumers across the country.
Lagos electricity consumers are increasing their resistance to estimated claims. In Isolo, Mafoluku and Oshodi, residents sued Ikeja Power Distribution Company (IKEDC) over inflated claims and long-term power outages.
In the lawsuit filed in the Ikoiyi Federal High Court, residents seek an injunction that would stop the IKEDC from cutting them off without court approval.
Lawal Ekundayo, one of the plaintiffs, told journalists that consumers were being billed without a reasonable supply of electricity.
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“In some cases, N1.5 million letters were issued in a month despite not having electricity for several days,” he said.
Another resident, Ahmed Oraiwola, said the lawsuit was filed to force the case to prove its claim in court rather than on the street.
“This is the second time we’ve sue them. Last year they provided free meters to settle down, but they’re just going to resume old practices that followed.”
Similarly, in Ajegunle, residents under the Ajegunle Peoples Movement petitioned Ekedc’s management about what is called “multiple unfair claims practices.”
According to the petition, the consumer was issued two separate invoices. One is the N7,808 flat rate bill that ranges from N40,000 to N150,000 and was imposed to recover penalties from the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Authority (NERC).
“This is a scary tor,” read the petition. “Most of our residents are on band B or C with minimal power usage. They only have light bulbs and fans. But we are charged to live in an industrial park.”
The group warned that such practices lack legal support, but not only are they illegal, they also deepen the distrust of the electricity sector.
