FG Dismisses Reports Of Planned Electricity Tariff Hike

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has dismissed reports of a planned electricity tariff increase, saying the Federal Government has no such intention.

Tegbe made this known on Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State, during the flag-off of a 17.7-megawatt (MW) hybrid solar mini-grid project designed to improve electricity supply to underserved communities.

He described reports circulating on social media about a possible tariff hike as misinformation and urged Nigerians to disregard them.

“I want to say this clearly and without ambiguity: there is no plan to increase electricity tariffs.

“What we are planning is a power sector that works round the clock,” he said.

The minister said the government’s plan to achieve reliable electricity supply includes developing three energy corridors: Lagos-Ogun, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, and Benin-Enugu-Port Harcourt.

He explained that the mini-grid project would serve communities in Akinyele, Ido, Ibadan North, Egbeda and Lagelu Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Oyo State.

According to him, the project would improve electricity supply to households and businesses, reduce dependence on generators and create opportunities for investment and job creation in the beneficiary communities.

Tegbe commended President Bola Tinubu for his leadership under the Renewed Hope Agenda and acknowledged the contributions of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Paras Energy, the World Bank, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and the Oyo State Government.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IBEDC, Deolu Ijose, said the project would provide electricity to 22,597 customers across five community clusters.

Ijose said Paras Energy and Natural Resources Development Limited developed the project, which comprises 17.7MWp of solar photovoltaic generation capacity supported by battery storage.

He said the project would serve Bola, Jiboye, Molade-Adelubi, Ogo-Oluwa and Sooko-Elega clusters, using IBEDC’s existing distribution infrastructure to integrate and deliver the electricity generated.

According to him, the arrangement demonstrates how electricity distribution companies and private developers can collaborate to expand access to power.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of REA, Abba Abubakar-Aliyu, said the project would provide 1.8MW to Bola in Akinyele LGA, 3.5MW to Jiboye in Ido LGA, 6.9MW to Molade in Ibadan North LGA, 3.6MW to Ogo-Oluwa in Egbeda LGA and 1.9MW to Sooko in Lagelu LGA.

He urged residents of the benefiting communities to protect the infrastructure to ensure its sustainability.