Nigerian university in darkness after being disconnected over N300m debt

• Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has disconnected the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Akoka from power supply
• The electricity company cut off UNILAG from power supply due to alleged N300 million unpaid electricity bills
• UNILAG said EKEDC disconnected them without notice and has refused to reconnect the university to the national grid

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 years of experience covering basic and tertiary education in Nigeria and worldwide

Akoka, Lagos state - The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has been cut off from electricity by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) due to alleged N300 million unpaid electricity bills.

The university management said it was abruptly disconnected from the power supply on August 27 without prior notice.

UNILAG was disconnected from the power supply on August 27 without prior notice. Photo credit: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP
Source: Getty Images

As reported by The Nation, the electricity costs worsened after UNILAG was upgraded from “Band B” to “Band A” by the electricity company.

The federal government-owned institution made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 28.

The tariff change caused the monthly electricity bill to surge from between N150 million and N180 million to nearly N300 million, marking a 100% increase.

“Just two weeks after our meeting, we were hit with a staggering bill of nearly half a billion naira (N472 million) for July, further increasing our debt burden!“We kept our promise and paid N180 million on August 20, yet on August 27, EKEDC disconnected us without notice and has refused to reconnect the university to the national grid.”

The UNILAG management disclosed that efforts were to resolve the issue with EKEDC.

The university said that power supply across the campus would be rationed until further notice, Business Day reports.

KEDCO disconnects Kano Varsity over N248m bill

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano state, cried out after it was thrown into darkness.

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) disconnected the university's power supply over the N248 million outstanding accumulated electricity bill.

The dean of student affairs, Prof. Abdulkadir Dambazau, said the management of the state-owned university is left with three options in an attempt to resolve the predicament.

Source: Legit.ng