Omotayo Adigun
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has strongly criticized what he termed “crazy billing” by electricity distribution companies, revealing that the bill for his official residence surged from N2.7 million in March to N29 million in April 2025.
He also expressed frustration over difficulties in getting a prepaid meter installed despite having paid for one.
Dr. Hamzat voiced these concerns on Monday, April 14, 2025, while representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at a roundtable discussion in Victoria Island held between the Lagos State Government and the federal government’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The event culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at electrifying rural communities within Lagos State.
Highlighting the burden faced by residents due to estimated billing, the Deputy Governor shared his personal experience.
“Last month, in my house, or the state house that I live in, the bill was N2.7m… This month, Eko DisCo sent us a bill of 29m. I sent it to the Commissioner for Energy. It’s crazy,” he stated.
He added, “I actually procured a meter… I bought the meter, but to convert it is wahala (difficulty).”
To illustrate that this was not an isolated issue, Dr. Hamzat cited the case of a resident in the Coker Aguda area of Surulere whose electricity bill amounted to N2.8 million, exceeding the individual’s annual house rent of N2 million.
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“How can the bill be more than the man’s rent for a year? Those are the challenges that we have. Our people are suffering because of estimated billing,” he lamented.
Despite these challenges, the event marked progress in another area of energy access. Dr. Hamzat commended the State Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, for facilitating the partnership with the REA.
Speaking at the event, Commissioner Ogunleye described the MoU as creating new opportunities for communities previously without hope for stable electricity.
“I am delighted… when you are not in Lagos, you’re not yet there,” he remarked, emphasizing the significance of the partnership.
The Managing Director of the REA, Abba Aliyu, confirmed that specific communities have been identified for the rural electrification program.
He also mentioned that the agency requires the state government’s approval to proceed with plans for an 8-megawatt capacity floating solar plant at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).