Lagos Deputy Governor Blasts Eko DisCo Over ₦29m Bill

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has expressed outrage over an astronomical electricity bill of ₦29 million slammed on his official residence by an electricity distribution company, describing the charge as unsustainable and unjustifiable.

Speaking at a roundtable on Monday in Victoria Island, Lagos, Hamzat disclosed that his electricity bill rose sharply from ₦2.7 million in March to ₦29 million in April, despite his unsuccessful efforts to obtain and activate a prepaid meter he had paid for.

“Last month, the bill was ₦2.7 million. This month, Eko DisCo sent a ₦29 million bill. I bought a prepaid meter, but getting it activated has been a nightmare,” he lamented.

The event, hosted at the Oriental Hotel, was organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to formalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on expanding access to renewable and decentralized power in the state.

Hamzat, who spoke on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, condemned the burden of estimated billing on residents and cited the case of a Surulere tenant charged ₦2.8 million for electricity annually—more than the cost of rent.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in his remarks, emphasized that inadequate power supply is a major impediment to economic growth in Lagos, revealing that over 4.5 million generators are currently in use in the state. “We generate enough energy, but it’s poorly distributed,” he said.

He directed the Ministry of Energy to involve community stakeholders in planning and implementation to ensure accountability and effective delivery of projects.

Commissioner for Energy, Biodun Ogunleye, described the MoU as a significant milestone, highlighting its focus on deploying solar power infrastructure in off-grid communities through joint assessments, capacity building, and investment facilitation.

According to the 2025 Lagos Economic Development Update, residents and businesses spend over ₦5.3 trillion annually on alternative power sources, while only 31% of households are connected to the national grid.

The state government says the renewable energy partnership will reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower energy costs, and create new green jobs for Lagosians.