The campaign for the renationalisation of the electricity sector, through sustained mobilisation and grassroots organising by the Solidarity Network for Workers’ Rights (SNWR), alongside the Ajegunle Peoples Movement (APM) and the Movement for a Socialist Alternative (MSA), has commenced. Beginning with a mass meeting of community members in Lagos, the campaign is expected to grow into a broader movement against exploitation in the power sector.

Over ten streets within the community were mobilized for discussions around the persistent crisis in the electricity sector, particularly the epileptic power supply, outrageous estimated billing, and the exploitative practice of multiple billing carried out by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko Disco).

In his lead-off contribution, Comrade Babs, the coordinator of the campaign, explained that the systematic exploitation of electricity consumers by the distribution companies is a direct consequence of the privatization of the power sector, where profit-making, rather than the provision of affordable and stable electricity, remains the driving principle.

He further emphasised that the Ajegunle Peoples Movement has consistently been at the forefront of the struggle against anti-poor electricity policies. He recalled the movement’s legal challenge against Eko Disco, which led to victory against the illegal ₦750 fixed charge in a landmark judgement delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in 2015.

Comrade Babs also stressed that the attacks on working-class communities through exploitative electricity tariffs and poor supply can only be defeated through mass organisation and collective struggle. He argued that communities across Lagos and Nigeria must unite to build a broad national campaign, armed with a socialist programme, to demand the renationalisation of the power sector under democratic workers’ control and management as the only guarantee for ending the profiteering and exploitation perpetuated by the distribution companies.

Following questions and contributions from community members, Comrade Dagga gave a summary contribution focusing on the tasks of organisation and mass mobilisation. He emphasised the need to deepen the campaign from street meetings to broader community-wide engagements by bringing more residents into the activities of the APM.

Particular emphasis was placed on encouraging the active participation of women in the organising process, a proposal that received strong support from many women present at the meeting. Hundreds of campaign leaflets were distributed to participants, while many attendees also left with additional copies to circulate within their various communities.

A total of ten copies of Solidarity newspaper were sold during the community intervention.