FG dismisses reports of electricity tariff hike

The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that there are no plans to increase electricity tariffs for any category of grid consumers, dismissing media reports suggesting an imminent hike.

 

The clarification was made in a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Power Infrastructure in the Office of the Vice President, Sadiq Wanka, who said his earlier comments had been misrepresented.

 

“There is no planned tariff hike for any grid consumer across any service band. The government remains committed to protecting vulnerable households through continued tariff support,” Wanka said.

 

According to the statement, Wanka’s remarks were made during a presentation at the Asharami Square 3.0 event in Lagos on July 22, where he discussed investment opportunities in the power sector and the Federal Government’s long-term electricity reform agenda.

 

He said his comments reaffirmed the tariff policy contained in the National Integrated Electricity Policy, finalised in December 2024 and approved by the Federal Executive Council in May 2025, which provides for a gradual transition to cost-reflective tariffs already implemented for Band A consumers.

 

The government, however, stressed that there are no plans to remove subsidies for consumers in other service bands.

 

“For all other consumer bands, he was clear that there is no plan to remove subsidies. Rather, the Government is exploring how to deliver value and support more efficiently,” the statement said.

 

Wanka also highlighted the Power Consumer Assistance Fund (PCAF), established under the Electricity Act 2023, as a mechanism for delivering targeted subsidies directly to vulnerable consumers through electricity accounts or other identity-linked platforms.

 

The Federal Government also acknowledged the role of the media in communicating public policies and urged journalists to continue supporting accurate and responsible reporting.