“I’ve Been Sad” – Kunle Afolayan Seeks Financial Help as Fuel Price Surge Pushes Diesel Costs to ₦11m Monthly

Award-winning Nollywood filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has raised concerns over the rising cost of diesel in Nigeria, revealing that the energy demands of his film production facility have become increasingly difficult to sustain.

In a video circulating widely on social media, the actor and entrepreneur disclosed that his production hub, KAP Film Village, spends about ₦11 million on diesel every month, despite operating with solar power support.

Afolayan explained that the steep rise in diesel prices has placed enormous pressure on the business, forcing him to purchase fuel on credit to keep operations running.

“It’s not sustainable because even the diesel we have been buying was on credit and when we make small money we find a way to pay, and sometimes it takes two months to pay and then get another one on credit,” he said.

The filmmaker appealed for financial support, stating that his company urgently needs funding to expand its solar energy infrastructure in order to reduce reliance on diesel.

“We need a loan to upgrade our solar power. So if you can come to our aid, I will really appreciate it,” he said.

Expressing frustration over the latest price jump, Afolayan noted that diesel has climbed from around ₦995–₦1,000 per litre to more than ₦1,500, making operational costs significantly higher.

“I have been sad because I can’t cope with the ₦1,500 per litre of diesel. I can’t even comprehend it. In one of the businesses that we run, KAP Village, we spent about ₦11 million in four to five weeks. Even though we have solar power, we still spend a lot on diesel,” he added.

The revelation has reignited conversations about Nigeria’s rising energy costs and the impact on businesses, particularly in the creative and entertainment industry where production facilities rely heavily on independent power sources.