Nigerian Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan Decries ₦11 Million Monthly Diesel Expense Amid Rising National Energy Costs

Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan warns of unsustainable business costs after spending ₦11 million on diesel in one month to power his KAP Village creative facility.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 11:34 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from LEADERSHIP

The Growing Price of Creative Production

Kunle Afolayan, a leading figure in the Nigerian film industry, has publicly addressed the financial strain placed on the creative sector by the country's volatile energy market. In a video released online, Afolayan revealed that his production facility, KAP Village, incurred diesel costs totaling ₦11 million over a period of approximately five weeks. This disclosure highlights the mounting overhead for large-scale creative hubs that require constant power to maintain high-end production schedules, equipment safety, and onsite hospitality operations.

Instability in the National Energy Grid

The necessity for such high fuel expenditures stems from the persistent unreliability of Nigeria's national electricity supply, which forces commercial enterprises to utilize diesel-powered generators as their primary or secondary energy source. With diesel prices currently hovering around ₦1,500 per litre, the cost of self-generation has become a primary driver of inflation within the local movie industry. According to Afolayan, the current pricing structure is unsustainable for businesses that lack the massive capital reserves required to weather prolonged periods of high operational costs.

Limitations of Current Renewable Infrastructure

Despite making significant strides toward sustainability, the filmmaker noted that existing renewable energy solutions have not yet fully mitigated the need for fossil fuels. Afolayan explained that while he has installed solar power systems at his facility, the energy demands of a full-scale creative hub still require diesel as a critical backup. The high initial cost of industrial-grade solar batteries and inverters means that many businesses remain trapped in a cycle of diesel dependence, as they cannot yet afford the total transition to a fully off-grid renewable system.