Renowned Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has sounded the alarm over the crushing financial burden that soaring diesel prices are placing on his businesses, revealing that his flagship creative hub is now spending as much as N11 million on fuel every four to five weeks.
Speaking in a video posted to Instagram on Tuesday, Afolayan described the situation as unsustainable, noting that the sharp rise in diesel prices from roughly N995 to N1,500 per litre has left him struggling to keep the lights on — even at a facility already equipped with solar power.
“I’ve been sad because I can’t cope,” he said, adding that his team has resorted to buying diesel on credit simply to maintain operations. “When we make small money, we find a way to pay. Sometimes it takes two months to pay it down and then get another one on credit.”
The filmmaker, whose KAP Film Village and Resort sprawls across more than 60 acres in Igbojaye, Oyo State, appealed publicly for support to expand the property’s solar infrastructure, saying even partial relief would make a meaningful difference.
Afolayan’s disclosure reflects a wider crisis gripping Nigerian businesses. Petrol now sells for over N1,000 per litre nationally, while diesel has climbed to around N1,620 squeezing enterprises that depend on self-generated power due to unreliable grid supply.
Since opening in 2025, KAP Film Village has established itself as a significant cultural and creative landmark, hosting major film productions including Netflix titles Aníkúlápó and Ijogbon as well as filmmaking residencies and youth training initiatives run in partnership with the Oyo State Government. The mounting cost of keeping that ecosystem powered, however, is testing even its founder’s resolve.
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