The Federal Government has ruled out any immediate increase in electricity tariffs, assuring Nigerians that its current priority is to improve service delivery, expand access to reliable power and accelerate universal metering across the country.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, gave the assurance while speaking with journalists after commissioning a 3MW captive solar hybrid power project at the University of Abuja, now known as Yakubu Gowon University.
Tegbe said the Federal Government was focused on building a commercially viable electricity sector while ensuring that vulnerable consumers were protected.
> “There are no immediate plans to increase electricity tariffs. Our goal is to build a commercially viable power sector while protecting vulnerable consumers,” the minister said.
The newly commissioned project is expected to provide stable and cleaner electricity to the university community of about 58,726 students, while significantly reducing the institution’s dependence on diesel-powered generators.
Developed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under Phase II of the Energising Education Programme (EEP), the project features a 3.3MWp solar array, 3MW AC output and a 2MWh battery storage system. It is also supported by dedicated grid supply outside periods of solar generation.
Beyond electricity generation, the project includes the installation of 388 solar-powered streetlights across the university campus to improve visibility and security and create a safer environment for students and staff after dark.
The minister said the project demonstrates the Federal Government’s broader commitment to improving the quality and reliability of electricity supply while implementing reforms aimed at strengthening the long-term sustainability of the power sector.
According to him, the administration is addressing the structural and financial challenges confronting the sector while ensuring that improvements in power supply are accompanied by greater efficiency, transparency and accountability across the electricity value chain.
Tegbe also identified universal metering as a major priority of the ministry, noting that it would promote accurate billing, enhance transparency and ensure that consumers are charged according to their actual electricity consumption.
The Federal Government’s clarification follows renewed concerns and political interpretations surrounding the minister’s comments on the possible removal of electricity subsidies and the prospect of another tariff adjustment.
However, Tegbe stressed that any tariff increase is not an immediate consideration, with the government instead concentrating on improving service delivery, expanding metering and restoring consumer confidence in the electricity market.
While reforms to the electricity subsidy framework remain under consideration as part of efforts to address the sector’s longstanding financial challenges, the government maintained that the interests of vulnerable consumers would remain a key consideration.
The Federal Government said its broader objective is to build a financially sustainable and investment-friendly electricity market capable of supporting infrastructure development, improving generation and distribution, and delivering more reliable power to homes, businesses and public institutions.
For now, the government’s position remains that there will be no immediate electricity tariff increase, as it prioritises improved service delivery, universal metering and the development of a more sustainable power sector.