‘We Now Switch Off ACs, Fridges, Light To Cut Cost’ – APC Chieftain, Joe Igbokwe Laments Electricity Tariff

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has expressed deep frustration over the soaring cost of electricity in Nigeria, particularly under the Band A tariff category recently implemented by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The former Lagos State Government aide, in a Facebook post on Sunday, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently revisit the policy, warning that it is pushing many urban dwellers into energy poverty.

Sharing his personal experience, Igbokwe revealed that consumers under Band A, like himself, have resorted to rationing their electricity use due to the high tariff. According to him, households now turn off air conditioners, refrigerators, and lights just to avoid excessive bills.

“I pray that PBAT will revisit the Electricity Band A matter,” he wrote.

“I do not think Distribution Companies are making the money they expected because we are switching off ACs, fridges, and lights. Take all to Band B, make more money.”

300% Tariff Hike Draws Nationwide Backlash

Naijaonpoint reports that NERC had in April 2024 approved a controversial 300 per cent increase in electricity tariffs for Band A customers.

The revised rate, which took effect from April 1, raised the cost of power supply for urban consumers from ₦68 to ₦225 ($0.15) per kilowatt-hour.

The hike sparked outrage across the country, with consumers lamenting that the increased charges have not translated into improved supply or value for money.

Since the adjustment, electricity consumers have repeatedly called on the federal government to suspend or reverse the new pricing structure, citing its unsustainable impact on household finances.

Igbokwe’s comment, coming from a prominent member of the ruling party, underscores the growing discontent among even loyalists of the administration regarding the policy.

Suggesting a practical solution, Igbokwe urged the government and DisCos to move customers from Band A to Band B, arguing that a lower tariff band might improve revenue through increased consumption.

As of press time, the presidency and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) have yet to respond to Igbokwe’s concerns.

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