LAGOS MAY 21ST (NEWSRANGERS)-The Ajegunle Peoples Movement has accused Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) of issuing inflated estimated electricity bills to residents of Ajeromi-Ifelodun in April despite what it described as poor and erratic power supply during the period.
In a statement signed by the Secretary of the Ajegunle Peoples Movement, Comrade Babatunde Yusuf, the group alleged that several residents received multiple electricity bills ranging from N50,000 to over N200,000, even though electricity supply reportedly remained largely inconsistent across the affected communities.
It also referenced public apologies issued by the electricity distribution company over epileptic power supply, which it attributed to reduced allocation and faults at the Badia substation, alongside meetings held with stakeholders to address consumer complaints.
Explaining its position on the issue, the group said it considered the situation to reflect broader concerns within the electricity sector.
It stated, “These developments once again expose the anti-people and profit-driven character of the privatised electricity sector, where private profiteers continue to enrich themselves through the ruthless exploitation of poor and working-class communities.”
The statement also addressed conditions in the Amukoko feeder area, where residents were said to have experienced minimal electricity supply but still received high estimated bills.
Providing details of the allegation, the group said: “Consumers under the Amukoko feeder, who barely enjoyed up to one hour of electricity supply throughout April, were still slammed with outrageous bills ranging from N50,000 to over N200,000. This is nothing but organised exploitation and daylight robbery against residents already battling worsening economic hardship.”
The movement further criticised the role of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, stating that its billing adjustments did not reflect actual supply conditions experienced by consumers.
Explaining its concern over regulatory action, the group said: “Rather than defend consumers, the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, which ought to sanction Eko Disco and even withdraw its licence for these criminal acts of systematic overbilling and exploitation, has instead added its own twist to these banalities by introducing arbitrary, unverified, and unscientific capping figures for various feeders in April.
“These figures do not correspond with the almost non-existent electricity supply experienced by consumers during the period, thereby giving official legitimacy to the exploitation of the masses.”
The statement also cited figures it said reflected billing and revenue trends within the electricity sector.
Presenting the figures, the group stated: “Statistics have further revealed the scale of profiteering in the electricity sector. Eko Disco reportedly distributed over N36 billion worth of bills to consumers in February and raked in about N33 billion in revenue at the expense of the super exploitation of the masses.
“This demonstrates how the DISCOs are rapidly recovering enormous profits from a sector that was sold off cheaply to private interests, while governments continue to channel trillions of naira in so-called subsidies to the GENCOs and DISCOs in exchange for darkness, suffering, and exploitation.”
The group outlined a series of demands, including withdrawal of April bills, cancellation of disputed charges, regulatory sanctions, and a town hall meeting involving stakeholders and residents.
It also called for structural reform of the sector, stating: “The immediate renationalisation of the electricity sector under democratic public ownership and control in order to guarantee an affordable, stable, and publicly accountable electricity supply for the masses rather than profit for a few capitalist interests.”
Concluding its position, the movement added: “The struggle against outrageous billing, darkness, and privatisation is ultimately a struggle for survival and the protection of working-class communities from capitalist exploitation.”
SaharaReporters
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