No to crazy bills — Pre-paid meters for all consumers.
No to any increase in tariffs.
This morning at Temidire, Tolu/Olodi area of Ajegunle, a peaceful protest against high electricity bills known as “crazy bills” mainly organised and dominated by women in the community, alongside other community activists who were there in solidarity was held. Police, who were heavily armed, swooped in on the protesters and arrested the women including Nana Glory, Iya Musa, Mama Kafayat, Stella and Rose among others.
Also arrested were Joseph Chukwudi, Emeka Bosah, Moshood Osunferewa, Lateef Adams of the MSA, and others whose names we are yet to get.
The MSA condemns the action of the Nigeria police and calls for their immediate release. Firstly, we want to point out that the protest was largely peacefully, and that the protesters were exercising their democratic right to so engage in such an act. One person, now identified as “Friday”, who was either in the service of EKDC or the police acted as an agent provocateur broke a bottle. This became the excuse the police needed to batch in on the protesters and commence their arrest. We want to confirm that the said Friday has since been released, while others remain incarcerated.
Eko DisCo, the Eko Elictricity Distribution Company (EKDC) has, since privatisation of the electricity sector, adopted the use of “crazy bills” to exploit consumers. They consciously refuse to provide consumers with prepaid meters, thereby charging them for darkness. Indeed, it is mainly working-class communities that suffer from this.
MSA demand their immediate release and that EKDC should provide the needed prepaid meters, while opposing the increase in tariffs without a corresponding increase in wages for workers. We call on the working-class to organise politically to win power and immediately renationalise the electricity, with all of the investment needed to provide regular, effective and affordable electricity to all.
Once again, we demand that the women, as well as all those arrested be released immediately.
Please send messages or call
CP, Lagos Police Command
Abiodun Alabi
08033432264
DPO, Tolu Police Station
08034448617
