The federal government said Friday it has no immediate plans to raise electricity tariffs, saying its priority is improving supply, expanding metering and ensuring consumers pay only for the power they use.
“The priority is not a tariff increase in the immediate term. Our priority is service improvement, universal metering and ensuring Nigerians pay only for the electricity they actually consume,” Power Minister Joseph Tegbe said during a media session in Lagos.
The clarification came amid concern over rising electricity costs after previous tariff reviews, particularly for Band A customers, and calls for better supply before any further price adjustments.
Tegbe said the government will continue to explore measures to protect vulnerable consumers while improving the financial sustainability of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
“The federal government will continue to examine additional mechanisms for protecting vulnerable consumers while simultaneously improving the market’s financial sustainability,” he said.
The ministry has developed a sector transformation agenda to boost generation, strengthen transmission, improve distribution efficiency and restore market liquidity. Interventions already under way include the inauguration of Power Force, a program that will train and engage 5,000 youths to install electricity meters nationwide to accelerate universal metering and build technical capacity.
Tegbe said progress has been made resolving long-standing meter procurement challenges, and that Nigeria has consistently generated more than 5,000 megawatts over the past two weeks through improved coordination across the power value chain.
“Although much work remains, enhanced operational coordination, improved plant availability and better engagement across the value chain are beginning to produce measurable improvements,” he said.
The government will undertake a comprehensive technical audit of the national transmission network to identify aging assets, overloaded substations, weak corridors, protection failures and other vulnerabilities that hinder reliable supply, Tegbe said. The audit will guide investment decisions, reduce system failures and improve planning.
He said the government will strengthen critical transmission infrastructure, improve grid stability and address liquidity challenges while advancing a Power Sector Bond initiative to clear legacy debts owed to generation companies, gas suppliers and other market participants.
Tegbe said he expects the reforms to produce visible improvements within months, with a stronger grid, lower technical losses, expanded access and greater operational capacity over the next two to three years.
