On his part, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, said a number of communities across Lagos have been earmarked to benefit from the project. He also disclosed plans to establish an 8-megawatt floating solar power plant at the University of Lagos, pending the state government’s approval.
Lagos, Nigeria — The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has raised alarm over what he described as outrageous electricity billing, disclosing that the electricity bill for his official residence skyrocketed from ₦2.7 million in March to ₦29 million in April.
Dr. Hamzat made this startling revelation during a stakeholders’ roundtable held on Monday in Victoria Island, Lagos. The event, which brought together the Lagos State Government and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to expand access to electricity in underserved areas of the state.
Sharing his experience with estimated billing, the deputy governor said the billing irregularities were not limited to average citizens, revealing that his own attempts to install a prepaid meter had been frustrated despite paying for one.
“I actually procured a prepaid meter to avoid the headache of estimated billing. But converting to it has been a serious challenge. Last month, our bill was ₦2.7 million. This month, Eko DisCo sent a bill of ₦29 million. It’s unbelievable,” he lamented.
Citing further instances of billing anomalies, Dr. Hamzat recalled the case of a resident in the Coker Aguda area of Surulere who was slammed with an electricity bill of ₦2.8 million, exceeding his ₦2 million annual rent.
“How does a person earning modestly get charged more for electricity than they pay in rent for a whole year? That’s the kind of suffering our people are going through due to this estimated billing system,” he added.
The deputy governor commended the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Biodun Ogunleye, for spearheading the partnership with the REA, describing the initiative as timely and impactful.
In his address, Ogunleye stated that the agreement with the REA is a major step toward bridging the electricity gap in Lagos, especially in rural communities that have long lived without access to reliable power.
“This collaboration opens the door to life-changing opportunities for communities that never imagined they could enjoy constant power supply,” the commissioner said.
On his part, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, said a number of communities across Lagos have been earmarked to benefit from the project. He also disclosed plans to establish an 8-megawatt floating solar power plant at the University of Lagos, pending the state government’s approval.
The partnership, stakeholders say, is expected to enhance power distribution and reduce the burden of estimated billing, which has sparked complaints from residents and government officials alike.
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