Obafemi Hamzat Decries Soaring Power Costs as Electricity Bill Skyrockets by 974% in One Month

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has disclosed that his official residence was slammed with a jaw-dropping electricity bill of N29 million in April — a sharp leap from the N2.7 million charged in March.

Speaking at a high-level roundtable between the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Lagos State Government in Victoria Island on Monday, Hamzat described the billing system of electricity distribution companies (DisCos) as “crazy” and “frustrating,” citing personal experience.

Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event, Hamzat didn’t mince words in condemning the current billing practices. “People are trying to survive, and the common denominator for their success is power. But they don’t have it. And even when they try, they face billing challenges,” he said.

He recounted his ordeal with Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCo), revealing that even after purchasing a prepaid meter to avoid estimated billing, efforts to activate it were thwarted.

“I bought a meter to avoid crazy billing,” Hamzat said. “But trying to convert it has been a nightmare. Last month, I paid N2.7 million; this month, Eko DisCo sent a N29 million bill. It’s insane.”

The deputy governor also highlighted another case from Coker Aguda in Surulere, where a resident was billed N2.8 million — more than his annual rent of N2 million.

“How can someone’s electricity bill be more than their rent? It’s unjustifiable. Our people are suffering because of this estimated billing madness,” he added.

The roundtable, which culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Lagos State Government and REA, aims to electrify underserved rural communities using sustainable solutions like solar power.

Commissioner for Energy, Biodun Ogunleye, praised the partnership, emphasizing its potential to transform lives. “Many people have never imagined living in a community with stable electricity. That’s about to change,” he said.

He confidently added, “REA has done great work across the country, but if you haven’t done it in Lagos, you haven’t arrived.”