Lekki, Lagos – May 31, 2024 – Residents of a Lagos estate staged a protest on Thursday, expressing their outrage over consistent blackouts, a bulk metering system, and what they believe are arbitrary service charges. The protestors, carrying signs and chanting slogans, demanded accountability and transparency from the estate’s management.
A major point of contention is the use of a single bulk meter for the entire estate. Residents claim this system leads to frequent power cuts and difficulty determining individual electricity consumption. They argue that individual metering, mandated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to eliminate “indiscriminate billing,” would ensure fairer electricity charges.
The protest letter circulated amongst residents also highlighted concerns over exorbitant service and maintenance fees. The lack of dependable electricity supply was further blamed for compromising estate security, as streetlights remained unpowered.
This is not the first time residents in Lagos have faced issues with bulk metering and unclear billing practices. In a similar case last year, residents of Royal Gardens Estate on Lekki-Epe Expressway protested against their estate developer, demanding an end to bulk metering and a more transparent system for determining service charges.
The Lekki estate protest underscores the ongoing challenges faced by residents across Lagos regarding electricity and estate management. It remains to be seen how the estate’s management will respond to the residents’ demands.
