“From Frying Pan To Hell Fire”: Nigerians React To Electricity Tariff Increase Amid Poor Power Supply

Following the recent upward review of electricity tariffs by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigerians have expressed shock, saying the recent increment is coming at a time the citizens are faced with numerous economic challenges.

Nigerians since the inception of this administration have been faced with a harsh economic situation following the removal of fuel subsidy which led to changes in the price of transportation, then a series of monetary policies, making foodstuff very expensive.

As the Naira continued to appreciate in the parallel market, Nigerians were optimistic that the prices of food would reduce. However, the NERC increased the electricity tariff, thereby compounding the existing problem.

In the new tariff, electricity consumers were categorized into Bands. Band A are consumers who enjoy 20 hours of electricity a day and above, Band B are consumers who enjoy 16 hours of electricity per day and above, Band C are consumers who gets12 hours of power per day and above, while Band D and E are consumers who enjoy 8 and 4 hours power per day and above respectively.

According to Ikechukwu Amah, an Abuja resident, those categorized under Band A do not enjoy 20 hours of power supply daily.

“The government is all for raising money at all costs. Like it was with PMS and subsidy, so it is turning out with electricity and subsidy. They ought to have carried out massive reforms, improving quality and quantity, before adjusting tariffs slowly.

“There’s no justification whatsoever for raising the electricity tariff by 300%. The worst part of this move is that over 50% of those who have been categorized into band A do not receive up to 20 hours of power supply every day”, Amah said.

Frank Eneh said before the electricity tariff is increased, there should be an 80 per cent power supply for over 90 days.

“I am not against tariff review, but electricity must be available at an uptime of 80% per cent over a 90-day period before any upward tariff is carried out. Now an upward review by Discos is like rewarding perennial failure”.

Ralph Eberechukwu Edeh, while sharing his thoughts, said “Energy is the number one thing that cuts across all endeavours of life. For investors and industries to function perfectly well, and for farmers and producers to get produce across all cities and markets, energy is the determinant factor of their prices. What about the use of it at home? Everything is energy.

“Then, why has the government chosen to frustrate those areas? Why has the government chosen to remove the fuel subsidy and are still targeting all forms of alternative energy when they’ve not even done anything to provide a conducive environment to test-run sources of revenue before making an increment?

“If one does not have light to produce, they go for PMS to power their generator. But all these areas are already frustrated with higher prices and thereby making the country further hard especially for a common Nigerian.

“Let there be a massive energy revamp to cut across modular refineries everywhere, then light up the nation with grids or what is even called. Once energy is reduced to the common man, even crime rate will reduce drastically”.

For Okonkwo Franklin in Anambra State, the electricity tariff increase for Bands A and B came at the wrong time in our national life.

He said this move will worsen the existing harsh economic challenges Nigerians are going through.

“Aside its impact on the income of individuals, the tariff will definitely impact the operations of industries and prices of their products. The tariff increase appears to be progressive on the surface level and intended to provide liquidity to the electricity sector, but we all know that policies are hardly implemented as they are conceived.

“I reside in Awka and do not enjoy electricity for up to 10 hours per day. We used to have a reliable power supply in late December 2023 when everything crumbled. Presently, apart from those on industrial lines, I doubt there is anywhere in Anambra state that enjoys power supply up to 20 hours per day.

“I just hope that Discos won’t use this opportunity to fleece the people of their hard-earned money by surreptitiously advancing them to the band they do not actually belong to”, Okonkwo said.

Alhaji Lateef Balogun said “If light is stable, I don’t have to buy fuel to power my Generator. A civil servant earning the minimum wage cannot afford to pay for electricity that is what it means

“When I checked with the link flying around to ascertain my band, it shows Band B however when I bought unit worth 3,000 naira which normally gives me lie 30+ Units, I was given 12 units instead which means I am being charged under Band A.”

Another Nigerian, Igboanugo Felix, while speaking with our correspondent, said “I live in 3-3 Onitsha, here in Anambra state. The new electricity Tariff hike is like from frying pan to hell fire even though our band is not affected by the hike, it affected the quantity of light we receive recently. Before the hike the quantity of light was manageable to a reasonable extent, but now it has drastically dropped to zero.

“Before the hike, the quantity was okay, once in a while, it would come and stay for like two hours or thereabout, but since the hike came into effect, we now receive light only at night, and it will stay 30 minutes and it’s off, till the next night, sometimes none.

“On the band we belong to, I think you should help us find out because I don’t think we belong to any, considering the quantity of light received. A normal light doesn’t last up to two hours in my area, sometimes thirty minutes.

“I think the Federal Government should channel more energy on making sure there’s enough light for all Nigerians to enjoy instead of electricity Tariff hike”.