EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES: Citizens Group Launches Advocacy for Improved Electricity Services in Ado-Odo/Ota

A recent step-down training on Electricity Consumer Advocacy and Community Monitoring has led to the establishment of the Ado-Odo/Ota Citizens Advocacy Group on Electricity in Ogun State. The group aims to promote transparency, fairness, and accountability in electricity billing and service delivery.

The training, organized by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and facilitated by the African Foundation for Environment and Development (AFED), brought together community leaders, civil society actors, youth organizations, journalists, and citizens groups from the ten zones in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area. Participants identified inadequate metering and estimated billing as major challenges facing electricity consumers in the Local Government Area.

According to Dr. Adeshola Afariogun, Training Facilitator, "The training was designed to strengthen participants' understanding of electricity consumer rights and improve community capacity for monitoring electricity service delivery."

Participants collectively agreed that the most significant challenge facing electricity consumers is the issue of inadequate metering and the widespread use of estimated billing. "Estimated billing often results in excessive electricity charges that do not reflect actual electricity consumption, thereby creating financial burdens for consumers and leading to disputes between consumers and electricity distribution companies," said participants in a communiqué.

The group has resolved to pursue advocacy for the operationalization of the Ogun State Electricity Regulatory Commission and institutionalize community-based monitoring of electricity services. They also advocated for the provision of free prepaid meters to electricity consumers to eliminate estimated billing and promote fairness in electricity billing.

"We strongly advocate for the provision of free prepaid meters to electricity consumers to eliminate estimated billing and promote fairness in electricity billing," said participants.

The establishment of the Ado-Odo/Ota Citizens Advocacy Group on Electricity marks a significant step towards citizen-driven monitoring and advocacy in the electricity sector. The group will serve as a platform for community electricity monitoring, electricity consumer awareness campaigns, evidence-based advocacy, and engagement with electricity regulators and distribution companies.

The training was held on Tuesday 10 March 2026 and was attended by representatives of Community Electricity Committees, National Youth Council of Nigeria (Ado-Odo/Ota Local Chapter), Non-Governmental Organisations, journalists, and citizens groups.