Nigerian filmmaker and entrepreneur, Kunle Afolayan, says persistent power shortages and soaring diesel costs are putting his ₦8 billion-plus investment in KAP Film Village and Resort under increasing strain, prompting an appeal for government support.
Afolayan made the disclosure during an interview with former Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, on the Nidacity Podcast, released on YouTube on Tuesday.
The filmmaker said the resort has operated without public electricity since its establishment, forcing him to rely heavily on diesel to power the facility.
He said the rising cost of diesel had become increasingly unsustainable and at one point prompted him to consider shutting down the resort.
“I believe so much in this country. We haven’t had electricity in KAP Village since the beginning. So we’ve been running on diesel,” he said.
Afolayan said he is now exploring renewable energy alternatives, revealing that about ₦200 million had already been invested in green energy, although the facility remains unable to generate sufficient power for the entire resort.
He said the scale of his personal investment justified some form of government intervention, particularly as businesses with significantly smaller investments had benefited from government grants and other support.
“If we’ve managed to do that, I think there should be some sort of support, like from government agencies,” he said.
Why Afolayan Built 100 Rooms
Afolayan also disclosed that he built 100 rooms at the film village after accommodation became a major challenge during the production of his movie, Anikulapo.
He recalled that members of the cast and crew, including Sola Sobowale and Bimbo Ademoye, had to bring personal belongings from home because of inadequate accommodation.
The experience, he said, prompted him to expand the facility’s accommodation capacity to provide better conditions for future film productions.
The disclosure highlights the infrastructure and energy challenges confronting private investments in Nigeria’s creative, tourism and hospitality sectors, despite growing efforts to develop the industries.
