The Federal Government has cautioned Nigerians about the possibility of being plunged into complete darkness should they refuse to embrace the increase in electricity tariffs.
The caution was delivered by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during his appearance before the Senate Committee on Power for an investigative session concerning the recent hike in electricity tariffs by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Adelabu revealed that without the implementation of the proposed electricity tariff increase, the nation could face a complete blackout within the next three months.
This warning came after the Senate committee, under the leadership of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, rejected the new tariff structure.
Adelabu said, “The entire sector will be grounded if we don’t increase the tariff. With what we have now in the next three months, the entire country will be in darkness if we don’t increase tariffs.
“The increment will catapult us to the next level. We are also Nigerians, we are also feeling the impact.”
Attributed to limited resources, the Minister highlighted the government’s incapacity to settle the outstanding N2.9 trillion subsidy, emphasizing the necessity to adopt new strategies to sustain the sector.
He implored the legislators to support the process of settling the debts owed to operators within the generation, transmission, and distribution sectors.
Meanwhile, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, heading the Senate Committee on Power, argued that subjecting Nigerians, who are already grappling with significant economic hardships, to a substantial increase in essential commodities like electricity is unjustifiable.
Expressing worry about the citizens’ plight, he urged the minister and other sector stakeholders to consider alternate solutions.
Senators Simon Lalong (Plateau South) and Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) criticized the lack of consultations prior to the tariff adjustment, emphasizing the necessity for providing relief measures during the process.
Chairing the Committee, Abaribe stressed that what Nigerians truly desired was resolution to the challenges and strategies to enhance liquidity in the sector.
He further criticized the absence of the company “ZIGLAKS” in fulfilling their agreement to provide prepaid meters to Nigerian consumers, alleging that the company had received N32 billion over two decades without fulfilling its obligations.
During the investigative hearing, various stakeholders, including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (NAN), Association of Power Generation (Gencos), and Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), presented their perspectives.
