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| Photo credit: Minister of Power — Joseph Tegbe |
The Federal Government has categorically ruled out any increase in electricity tariffs, insisting that its current priority is to improve power supply and fix the deep-rooted problems in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, made the announcement on Monday in Abuja during a media briefing marking his first 100 days in office (June 8 – September 16).
“Let me categorically state, and this is not a political statement, we have no plan to increase electricity tariffs,” Tegbe declared.
Instead of placing more financial burden on already struggling consumers, the government is focusing on addressing the financial and technical challenges that have crippled the power sector for years.
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Challenges Across the Entire Value Chain
According to the minister, problems exist at every stage of the electricity value chain. Simply generating more power will not solve the crisis.
Key issues identified include:
• Limited gas supply caused by damaged pipelines and unfavourable commercial terms
• Ageing thermal power plants with delayed maintenance and stalled projects
• Generation companies receiving only 27% of what they are owed
• Vandalised transmission towers and frequent system collapses
• Distribution companies recording 30–40% aggregate technical, commercial and collection losses
• Over ₦100 billion in unpaid electricity bills by government ministries, departments and agencies
• Mounting debts, inflation, and foreign exchange pressures
Tegbe explained that these problems form a vicious cycle: unpaid bills weaken gas supply and plant maintenance → unreliable electricity reduces collections → poor collections deepen debt. Building new power stations alone cannot break this cycle.
Progress in the First 100 Days
Despite the challenges, the minister highlighted several concrete achievements:
• The 375MW Alaoji power plant was restored to the national grid after three years offline
• New transformers in Lagos (Apapa, Ijora, Alausa and Lekki) unlocked 672MW of transmission capacity
• A 300MVA transformer at Katampe, Abuja, added another 240MW
• National power generation rose above 5,000MW in recent weeks (peaking at 5,330MW), compared with 3,700–4,700MW before June
• Approximately 350,000 electricity meters installed, bringing the cumulative total to over 1 million
• ₦1.23 trillion raised to tackle part of the ₦3.3 trillion power-sector debt
• Resolution of the AMMON metering litigation, paving the way for 1.4 million additional smart meters
He was careful to note that national improvements do not yet mean every community enjoys reliable supply: “National progress can coexist with an unreliable feeder in a particular community.”
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Next Steps
In the coming months, the government will prioritise stabilising three major transmission corridors: Lagos, Enugu–Port Harcourt, and Abuja–Kaduna–Kano. Work will also begin on a Transmission Super Grid, while technical audits are already underway.
Progress will be measured by:
• Improved power supply reliability
• Better billing accuracy
• Faster resolution of faults and customer complaints
The minister reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to “visible, incremental improvements” rather than empty promises.
What this means for Nigerians
For millions of households and businesses tired of high bills and poor supply, the minister’s clear assurance against tariff increases is welcome news.
However, the real test will be whether the technical and financial reforms translate into more hours of electricity and fewer estimated bills in the months ahead.
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