Why residents keep fighting over bills in Nigerian estates – Expert explains

Jimoh Bello Momoh, Principal Partner at Macmomoh and Company, has said that fair and transparent power management is the biggest challenge facing multi-tenanted estates in Nigeria, stressing that facility managers must balance resident needs with the realities of the country’s electricity sector.

Residents in estates and apartment blocks across Nigeria face constant struggles with power supply, from unreliable distribution to disputes over billing and shared costs.

According to Momoh, these challenges highlight the critical role of facility managers in ensuring efficient power use.

Speaking to our reporter, he explained that estates often depend on a bulk metering system.

“The estate is classed as a single customer by IKEDC and falls under Band A, which promises about 20 hours daily. We have a Maximum Demand Meter outside the estate gate that records all the energy coming in. From there, we channel it into the facility,” he said.

Each household uses a prepaid meter with tokens bought through a cloud-based system.

However, he noted that communal services such as streetlights, sewage plants, and water treatment also consume electricity. To cover these costs, every household contributes a fixed monthly fee.

The system helps maintain essential services, but issues of trust remain. Momoh admitted that managing power is not straightforward.

“Electricity in Nigeria passes through generation, transmission, and distribution. If there is a break at any point, the estate suffers,” he said. To reduce disruption, the management team stays in close contact with IKEDC to get updates on planned maintenance or sudden grid failures. Billing errors have created tension in the past. Momoh recalled a time when the estate was billed with a meter meant for a larger population.

“We were getting inflated bills. After pressing the case, it was discovered that we needed a smaller meter. Once it was changed, the bills became more accurate,” he explained.

He added that energy theft and illegal connections remain a problem, but audits and timely payments from residents help maintain stability. “The bills come every month. If payments are made on time and checks are in place, we can guarantee stable supply,” he said.

When outages occur, management acts fast. “We ask if it is planned work or a major fault and request a time for restoration. Residents are then updated so they can plan,” Momoh said. Unlike some estates, generators are not allowed because of noise and fumes. Instead, residents are turning to solar panels and inverters for backup.

Despite improvements, billing disputes still happen, especially around communal charges. Momoh said prepaid meters have reduced complaints about individual usage, but residents often question why they must contribute to shared facilities. “Every resident buys their own token. If they don’t, they won’t have power in their homes. But for communal facilities, everyone must contribute, otherwise services will stop. The best way is to educate residents and show them a clear breakdown of costs,” he explained.

Efficiency has become a priority for the estate. Residents are encouraged to use LED bulbs and energy-saving appliances. “Community engagement and education are our strongest tools,” Momoh said. Energy audits are also carried out to identify waste in shared areas, while automation is being introduced to cut costs. “Automation cuts waste and prevents unnecessary bills,” he noted.

The estate’s vending system has also improved transparency. Payments are made through an app or directly at the management office.

“Every unit is metered. There are no estimated bills. People only pay for what they use,” Momoh confirmed. This, he said, has reduced disputes and encouraged careful use of electricity.

On the role of government, Momoh pointed out that rules exist but are not strongly enforced. “The regulators provide the framework, but estates themselves must push the power companies to follow it,” he said.

He believes facility managers must continue balancing the interests of residents with the realities of Nigeria’s power sector. In his words, “Electricity is not just about supply from the grid. It is about fairness, transparency, and making sure everyone plays their part.”