Somolu bills hit different: what nobody tells you
so here's the thing about somolu-i moved here thinking i'd be paying the same old "reasonable" utility rates i had in yaba, but nah. this place has its own rhythm, and your wallet feels it. electricity? hit or miss. sometimes the lights stay on for 12 hours straight, other times you're lighting candles like it's 1995. and don't get me started on the prepaid meter game-one minute you're good, next minute your units vanish faster than free jollof at a owambe.
i asked around, and the consensus from neighbors is that you're looking at roughly ₦15,000-₦25,000/month for electricity if you're running a fridge, fan, and charging your phone like a normal human. water? if you're lucky and your building has a borehole, maybe ₦3,000/month. if not, get ready to budget for mai ruwa runs-about ₦10,000/month easy.
here's a quick messy breakdown i scribbled on the back of a recharge card:
- *electricity (prepaid): ₦15k-₦25k/month
- water (borehole or vendor): ₦3k-₦10k/month
- waste disposal: ₦3k/month (if your compound has it)
- security (neighborhood watch): ₦5k/month (optional but recommended)
rent in somolu varies wildly. a two-bedroom flat can go from ₦350k to ₦700k per year depending on whether you want tiles or just concrete floors. and yes, some landlords still collect rent annually-no monthly installments, no pity.
weather & neighbors
right now, it's hot as hell-like, "i just walked through the sun's armpit" hot. but that's typical march-april here. if you need a break, bariga and shomolu are just a short danfo ride away, and they've got their own quirks too.
overheard rumors
"the transformer on ajose street has been bad for months, but nobody's fixing it. we just dey manage." - anonymous neighbor
"if you see a bill that says "fixed charge," just pay it. arguing with nepa here is a full-time job." - local shop owner
external links*
- TripAdvisor - Somolu Safety
- Reddit - Lagos Living
- Yelp - Somolu Services
anyway, that's the real deal. somolu isn't trying to be lekki or vi-it's just doing its own thing. and if you're coming here, bring extra cash for bills, a sense of humor, and maybe a rechargeable lamp.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/libreville-utilities-whats-actually-breaking-your-bank
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- https://topiclo.com/post/healthcare-in-honch-the-messy-truth-about-hospitals-clinics
- https://topiclo.com/post/the-best-coworking-spaces-and-wifi-cafes-in-concepcin-as-told-by-a-slightly-chaotic-digital-nomad