The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has said the Federal Government has no plans to raise electricity tariffs. He spoke on Thursday in Ibadan. He flagged off the 17.7MW hybrid solar mini-grid project in Oyo State. He described reports of a planned tariff hike as misinformation. He urged Nigerians to disregard them.
Nigeria’s electricity tariffs have risen repeatedly since 2020. The government removed subsidies for Band A customers in 2024. Bills rose from about ₦10,000 to over ₦41,000 for some households. The increases triggered protests. The government defended them as necessary for cost recovery. The Nigeria Labour Congress demanded rollbacks. The current assurance responds to those sensitivities.
Tegbe said the government is planning a power sector that works round the clock. He cited three Energy Zones. These are the Lagos-Ogun corridor, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor and the Benin-Enugu-Port Harcourt corridor. He said the government plans to build and improve the national grid across eastern, western and central corridors.
The metering gap remains a concern. Millions of Nigerians lack prepaid meters. Estimated billing breeds distrust. The government has pledged to expand metering. Tegbe reaffirmed that commitment. The 17.7MW solar project in Oyo is part of the broader effort. It will serve 22,597 customers. It will reduce generator dependence.
Winners: Consumers, if tariffs remain stable. The government, which shows sensitivity. Solar developers, who gain contracts. DisCos, which gain capacity. Losers: Critics who predicted a hike. The grid, which faces competition. Taxpayers, if subsidies return.
Bottom Line: The minister denied a tariff hike. The assurance is welcome. Consumers remain wary. The government must deliver stable power. Without it, the denial means little.