The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has disconnected power to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) over alleged unpaid electricity bills.
The university’s management confirmed the disconnection in a statement on Wednesday.
UNILAG has been battling rising electricity expenses, which exacerbated when EKEDC increased the university’s tariff from “Band B” to “Band A.”
This tariff change increased the monthly electricity expense from between N150 million and N180 million to almost N300 million, a 100% increase.
The management explained that, despite ongoing negotiations with EKEDC and a recent payment of N180 million on August 20, the university was unexpectedly disconnected from the power supply on August 27 without notice.
“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 statement reads.
The management assured the university community that steps were underway to resolve the situation with EKEDC.
It called for calm and announced that power supply across the campus would be rationed until further notice.