Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, expressed regret to Nigerians for his remarks suggesting they leave freezers on for days due to low electricity tariffs.
“We apologize for any offense caused,” Adelabu stated on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He faced criticism for his comments made on April 4, 2024, where he claimed Nigerians lacked electricity management culture due to “cheap” power supply. Adelabu defended the tariff hike citing the Electricity Act 2023, which authorizes NERC to review tariffs biannually.
He explained that reducing electricity subsidies was necessary due to budget constraints, aiming to allocate resources more effectively. Adelabu clarified that only 15% of customers, around 1.5 million out of 12 million, would face tariff increases, while the majority would continue to receive subsidies.
He emphasized the need to prioritize infrastructure improvements for Band A customers to ensure more reliable service. Adelabu asserted the legality of the tariff review, highlighting the Act’s provisions for biannual tariff adjustments based on economic factors.
