The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has been thrust into a challenging situation following the disconnection of its power supply by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) due to outstanding electricity bills. This has led to a campus-wide blackout, signaling the growing financial pressure on the institution.
The university has been grappling with rising energy costs, especially after EKEDC recently upgraded its tariff classification from “Band B” to “Band A.” This upgrade has caused a significant spike in monthly electricity bills, escalating the financial burden on the institution.
Previously, UNILAG’s electricity expenses ranged between ₦150 million and ₦180 million monthly. However, the switch to the “Band A” category resulted in the June bill nearly doubling to almost ₦300 million—a staggering 100% increase that has left the university in a difficult position.
The university management, in a statement released on Wednesday, expressed deep concern over the ongoing power outage that has affected the campus since Tuesday. Despite ongoing negotiations with EKEDC and a payment of ₦180 million made on August 20, the university’s power was cut off on August 27 without prior notice.
“Just two weeks after our meeting, we received a shocking bill of nearly half a billion naira (₦472 million) for July, which further exacerbated our debt situation. We honored our commitment and paid ₦180 million on August 20, yet EKEDC disconnected us on August 27 without notice and has refused to restore our connection to the national grid,” the statement read.
The management reassured the university community that they are actively working to resolve the issue with EKEDC. Meanwhile, they called for calm and announced that power supply would be rationed across the campus until the matter is resolved.