ENUGU — Nollywood legend Chief Pete Edochie has launched a scathing attack on the state of Nigeria’s power sector, revealing a staggering daily expenditure of ₦40,000 just to keep the lights on in his home.
Speaking on Thursday, the veteran actor described the current economic hardship and the collapse of the national grid as an “unbearable burden” that has left ordinary Nigerians stranded.
A Breakdown of the Darkness
The 78-year-old icon, widely known as Ebubedike, provided a grim breakdown of his utility costs, highlighting the failure of public power supply.
“On the whole, I spend forty thousand every single day on light. It disturbs me a lot,” Edochie lamented. He explained that while approximately ₦10,000 goes toward grid electricity, he is forced to cough up an additional ₦30,000 daily for diesel and petrol to run generators.
Disconnect in Governance
Edochie did not mince words in his critique of the political class, accusing leaders of being completely detached from the suffering of the masses.
“Who is really fighting for the common man?” he questioned. “Our politicians are only interested in enjoying power. Nobody seems to be bothered about what is happening to the person on the street. If someone like me is feeling this pinch, imagine what is happening to those who have nothing.”
National Power Crisis
The actor’s outcry comes amid a controversial 2026 tariff hike that has seen electricity costs for “Band A” customers soar to over ₦225 per kilowatt-hour. Despite the price surge, many parts of the country continue to experience frequent grid collapses and prolonged blackouts, forcing even high-income earners to rely heavily on expensive alternative energy.
Edochie, who celebrated his 79th birthday this week, urged the Federal Government to prioritize service delivery over revenue collection, warning that the “limit of endurance” for the Nigerian people is fast approaching.
