Nollywood patriarch Pete Edochie (Ebubedike) has added his voice to the growing chorus of Nigerians decrying the country’s deepening energy crisis. In a candid interview on AIT’s Jigsaw aired on Thursday, March 5, 2026, the 78-year-old actor revealed that he spends a staggering ₦40,000 daily just to keep the lights on in his home.
The legendary actor, who celebrated his birthday this week, provided a meticulous breakdown of his “unsustainable” energy costs, which total approximately ₦1.2 million per month:
- National Grid: ₦10,000 daily on prepaid electricity units.
- Diesel Generator: ₦20,000 daily to power his primary backup.
- Petrol Generator: ₦10,000 daily for a smaller secondary unit.
“It disturbs me a big deal. I am not working just for light,” Edochie lamented, pointing out that if a person of his stature is struggling, the “common man” must be in a state of absolute despair. He criticized the Nigerian political class for being “only interested in getting into politics and enjoying power,” while remaining indifferent to the collapse of basic infrastructure like the national grid and rail transport.
His comments come at a time when Nigeria’s power generation has dipped below 4,000 megawatts due to severe gas shortages, leaving even “Band A” customers—who pay premium rates for 20+ hours of power—receiving as little as five hours of supply in many regions. For many fans, Edochie’s “Lionheart” roar serves as a sobering reminder of the economic pressures hitting every level of Nigerian society in 2026
