“I’ve been sad— Kunle Afolayan Cries Out

Renowned filmmaker and entrepreneur, Kunle Afolayan, has voiced his deep frustration over the skyrocketing cost of diesel in Nigeria, describing the current price of ₦1,500 per litre as a “sad and unsustainable” reality for business owners.

Afolayan, who operates major creative and hospitality hubs including Kunle Afolayan Production (KAP) Village and KAP Hub, shared a heartbreaking breakdown of his operational costs, revealing that despite investing in renewable energy, his monthly power bill remains staggering.

In a candid disclosure that highlights the struggle of the creative industry, the filmmaker revealed that his Lagos-based hubs are drowning under the weight of energy costs.

“I’ve been sad because I can’t cope with the 1,500 per litre of diesel. I can’t even comprehend it,” Afolayan lamented. “In one of the businesses that we run, Cab Village, we spend about 11 million naira in four or five weeks on diesel. And we have solar power, but we are still spending that much.”

The most shocking part of the revelation was the admission that even a mogul of his stature has had to rely on credit to keep the lights on. Afolayan explained that at the previous price of ₦995 per litre, his business was already stretched to its limit.

Recognizing that solar energy is the only long-term solution, Afolayan noted that the cost of scaling up his current renewable infrastructure is a massive hurdle. He made a direct appeal for financial intervention to help businesses transition fully to green energy.

“We need a loan to upgrade our solar power. So please, if you can come to our aid, I would really appreciate it,” he pleaded, pointing out that without specialized support, even the most successful local enterprises face an uncertain future.

Afolayan’s “KAP Village” is more than just a business; it is a cultural landmark and a production powerhouse for African cinema. Industry experts warn that if figures like Afolayan are feeling the pinch, the wider creative sector—which relies heavily on stable power for filming, editing, and hospitality—is in a state of emergency.

As the retail price of diesel continues to fluctuate across Nigeria, the filmmaker’s cry for help serves as a wake-up call for the government to provide targeted energy subsidies or low-interest “green loans” for SMEs and the creative arts.