Nollywood filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has raised alarm over the rising cost of diesel in Nigeria, lamenting that the surging price of the product is threatening the sustainability of his creative and hospitality businesses.
The award-winning director disclosed that the financial burden of powering his facility has become overwhelming, revealing that he recently spent more than N11 million on diesel within just five weeks to keep operations running at his entertainment hub.
Afolayan made the disclosure while speaking about the realities of running large-scale creative infrastructure in Nigeria, noting that the astronomical increase in the cost of diesel—now hovering around N1,500 per litre—has placed enormous pressure on business owners who depend on generators for power supply.
According to him, the amount spent on diesel during a single event hosted at the KAP Film Village and Resort exposed the harsh economic conditions facing entrepreneurs in the country’s creative industry.
“This is not sustainable,” Afolayan said, stressing that the growing operational expenses are gradually eroding the financial viability of projects meant to promote Nigerian culture, tourism, and filmmaking.
He explained that constant power supply is critical for the smooth operation of film productions, hospitality services, and events hosted at the facility, adding that the heavy reliance on diesel generators has significantly inflated the cost of running the establishment.
The filmmaker therefore called for urgent financial support to enable him transition to more sustainable energy sources, revealing that he is exploring the possibility of securing a loan to upgrade his solar power infrastructure.
“If I can get access to a loan, I will invest heavily in solar energy for my businesses,” he said, noting that renewable energy would help reduce dependence on diesel and cut long-term operating costs.
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