Nigerians worried about a possible increase in electricity bills have received a fresh assurance from the Federal Government, with the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, saying there is no plan for the reported tariff hike.
Tegbe gave the assurance in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday during the groundbreaking ceremony for five mini-grid projects expected to improve electricity supply to selected communities.
The projects have a combined generation capacity of 17.7 megawatts, alongside battery storage facilities designed to help provide a more reliable power supply. The beneficiary communities are Bola, Jiboye, Molade-Adelubi, Ogo Oluwa and Sooko-Elega, located across parts of Ibadan and surrounding local government areas.
The minister urged Nigerians not to panic over reports of an impending tariff increase, saying the government’s priority was to improve electricity supply.
For households already dealing with the cost of food, transportation, fuel and other essentials, electricity bills remain a major concern. Many businesses also depend on alternative power sources when public electricity supply is unreliable, increasing their operating costs.
That is why the government’s assurance will be welcomed by consumers, although many will want to see tangible improvements in the amount of electricity available and the reliability of supply.
The mini-grid projects could help the communities they serve, but their broader impact will depend on implementation, maintenance and how consistently electricity reaches residents and businesses.
The announcement also places renewed attention on the government’s power-sector plans. Nigerians are not only looking for assurances about tariffs; they also want to know when reliable electricity will become a reality in their homes, shops, schools and workplaces.
For now, the minister has ruled out the reported tariff increase, but the bigger test will be whether improved power supply follows.
Would you rather have lower electricity bills with unreliable supply or pay a fair rate for dependable electricity? That is a question many Nigerian consumers continue to face.
