Popular filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has raised the alarm over the worsening power crisis at his film village, revealing that he has pumped more than N8 billion of his personal money into the project.
Afolayan said the huge investment has been threatened by the cost of powering the facility, which he claimed has never enjoyed electricity supply since its establishment.
The filmmaker disclosed this while speaking with former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun on the Nidacity podcast released on YouTube on Tuesday.
According to him, the film village has been surviving on diesel, but the soaring cost of the product has made the situation increasingly unbearable.
Afolayan said he had even contemplated shutting down the resort because he could no longer sustain the diesel bill.
He explained that although a friend offered to supply diesel on credit, the arrangement could not provide a lasting solution to the problem.
With the electricity crisis threatening his investment, Afolayan said he was now desperately exploring alternative energy sources.
He disclosed that about N200 million had already been spent on green energy, but added that the project was still not enough to power the entire resort.
The filmmaker also appealed to government agencies to come to his aid, arguing that an establishment into which he had invested more than N8 billion deserved government support.
Afolayan said he knew of businesses that had invested far less but had received government grants, questioning why similar assistance could not be extended to his massive project.
HOW ‘ANIKULAPO’ FORCED HIM TO BUILD 100 ROOMS
Afolayan also revealed how the production of his hit movie, Anikulapo, forced him to expand the facilities at the film village.
He recalled that the cast and crew faced serious accommodation problems during production, with some members forced to squat in people’s homes.
According to him, popular actresses Sola Sobowale and Bimbo Ademoye even had to bring personal belongings, including mattresses and freezers, from their homes.
The experience, he said, prompted him to construct 100 rooms at the film village to accommodate cast and crew and make future productions more comfortable.
But despite the massive expansion and billions of naira invested, Afolayan’s biggest headache now appears to be keeping the sprawling facility powered.
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