Ayomide, a young designer in his mid 30’s had five months ago rented a new apartment in an estate in the Bariga area of Lagos State.
It was a mini-flat, and to him, it was a dream come true. Not just to him, indeed, every young man of his age would surely feel the same way.
When he moved into his new home, Ayo received numerous exciting reports.
The one that gladdened him the most was when he heard that the estate enjoys constant power supply and that once upon a time, his new compound paid as low as ₦700 per room for electricity bill.
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As Ayo walked through his new house, just looking around, his joy knew no bounds. While walking, he was picturing how he would set up his house gradually.
In fact, he made a resolution that since the apartment looked very comfortable, he would live there till he makes enough money to build his own house.
The Separation
Before now, Ayo had already been informed that the tenants upstairs, where he lived, were paying ₦5,000 each month as electricity bill.
You may be wondering why the separation? Well, Ayo was not interested in that version of the story.
To him, ₦5,000 was not bad, his work is a remote job and hence paying ₦5,000 for constant power supply was no big deal.
If only he had stopped to think for a moment, perhaps he would have realised earlier that he was walking into a very bad situation.
If only he had asked himself some questions, perhaps he would have connected the dots on time.
Why are the neighbours downstairs using a prepaid meter?
How did the electricity bill climb from ₦700 to ₦5,000?
This should have been very helpful questions to him, but no, Ayo was overwhelmed by excitement.
All was well, for months, Ayo enjoyed his new home, the power supply was more than he expected, in fact, some days, he doesn’t bother to charge his phone.
Often, he was sure that light will be there and all he needed to do was pay his ₦5,000 and enjoy the constant power supply.
Oh, it was now ₦5,500, he didn’t even notice.
Now, as he sat in his dark parlor, thinking of those moments, his heart boils in anger.
Trouble In Paradise
Ayo sat there for hours, kissing a chilled bottle of beer and puffing smokes from his cigarette into the air. A delicate habit he had carried on.
His mind was made up, he is storming the office of the Ikeja Electricity Company the next day, only that now, he was contemplating how to unleash his anger.
Should he just storm the office and unleash his anger at the customer service agent?
“No, I’ll walk inside, talk to anyone that attends to me politely, but if nothing is done about my report, hell will let loose,” he thought to himself.
As he moved slowly to his bed, Ayo’s mind was full of thoughts, this would be his 5th night without electricity.
Sad Reality
You see, according to the last bill they received, each room is to pay ₦15,000 as electricity bill. They had failed to raise the expected amount and some officials had paid them a visit.
That visit left Ayo and his neighbours in total darkness.
Now, you see the reason for his decision to visit their office.
His neighbours who do not work from home care less, before they return from their offices, their gadgets are on full charge, but for Ayomide, the reverse is the case.
Now he has to make friends with a neighbour downstairs, that is his only chance of working.
Digging Deep
In the midst of all the anger, Ayo had one determination, to uncover how he moved from paying ₦5,000 to ₦15,000.
“Something is definitely wrong somewhere”, he said to himself, as he rolled from one edge of his bed to the other. Millions of mosquitoes hosted a feast on his fresh skin.
The next morning, Ayo woke up even before his alarm. He managed to sleep at 3:30 am but yet, as early as 7:36 am he was already dressed.
What angered him more is that despite paying some part of the demanded fee from the bill, the officials in charge of the area had refused to reconnect his home.
The officials had refused to state any reason for this action, leaving many with the conclusion that it was because they weren’t offered bribe.
The Reality Of Time
Ayo was among the first five persons to arrive at the office of the Ikeja Electricity Company. It was a Monday morning and everywhere was calm.
He spent only about 10 minutes in the building and boom he was already walking out of the gates. Despite all the explanation and all the arguments, Ayo did not get any tangible explanation.
He was however given two options, either pay the estimated amount or purchase a prepaid meter, a move their landlord had washed his hands off.
As he sat in the bus, confused, Ayo thought of so many things. First, he thought about renting a new apartment, but it was barely six months in his new home.
Moreover, the cost of renting a new place recently scared the thought off his mind.
Luckily for Ayo, he has a generator, “yes, na just to buy fuel,” alas he was able to find some hope.
No Way Out
Ayo got to his bus stop, there was a fuel station right in front of him, immediately he crossed over, he wanted to be sure how much petrol cost now so he knows his budget.
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“How much be fuel?” He asked.
“₦617 sir,” a pump attendant answered.
It was there and then that Ayo realized that there was no way out.
“How much I go come spend on top fuel,” he exclaimed as he moved in disappointment.
Frustrated and disappointed, Ayomide headed back home, his problems still unsolved.
As he strolled home, he wondered to himself, is it because of the increase in fuel price that gives the electricity company the mind to estimate such high bill? Because they know people won’t have a choice.
Unfortunately, there is a rising cost of living in Nigeria since the petrol subsidy was taken off the product. Electricity bill will also jump.
He was told that the cost of getting a prepaid meter was recently increased from ₦65,000 to ₦165,000.
He was now beginning to connect the dots one by one, however, he could not make a choice as to what to do.
What would you advise?
