Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has spoken out against the very high electricity bills people are receiving. He shared his personal experience, saying his official home was billed N29 million for April, compared to N2.7 million in March.

He made this known at a roundtable event held on April 14 between the Lagos State Government and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in Victoria Island. Mr Hamzat said that despite buying a prepaid meter from Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), he has not been able to use it because of long delays.

“I’m a perfect example,” he said. “I got a bill of N29 million this month, while last month was N2.7 million. I bought a prepaid meter to stop estimated billing, but converting to it has been very difficult.”

Mr Hamzat, who was representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event, also pointed out that this problem affects many ordinary Lagos residents. He mentioned someone from Coker Aguda, Surulere, who got a bill of N2.8 million, which is more than his yearly rent of N2 million.

He said estimated billing is causing serious hardship for many people in Lagos.

The event also included the signing of a partnership deal between Lagos State and the REA to bring solar power to rural communities in the state.

Biodun Ogunleye, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, said the move will help bring stable electricity to areas that currently don’t have it. “Now, people who never thought they’d get steady electricity will soon have it,” he said.