By Seun Ibiyemi
The Federal Government has dismissed reports of an imminent electricity tariff increase, assuring Nigerians that its immediate priority is to improve power supply through expanded metering, enhanced electricity generation and critical investments in transmission infrastructure.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunhanmi Tegbe, disclosed this on Friday during a media stakeholders’ session in Lagos, where he said the meeting marked the beginning of a new phase of openness, accountability and collaboration in the electricity sector.
Tegbe said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was committed to building on ongoing reforms while addressing long-standing structural challenges that have constrained the growth of the power sector.
“Our objective is clear. To make electricity more available, make the grid more reliable, make the market financially sustainable and restore investor confidence. Ultimately, we want to ensure that electricity becomes a catalyst for national productivity rather than a constraint to economic growth,” the minister said.
He noted that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated strong political commitment to electricity sector reforms, stressing that reliable power remains essential to Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic development.
Addressing recent media reports, Tegbe dismissed claims of an imminent electricity tariff increase, insisting that the government’s current priority is to ensure universal metering through the Presidential Metering Initiative.
According to him, the initiative is designed to guarantee transparency and fairness by ensuring consumers pay only for the electricity they actually consume.
The minister said the administration had also prioritised investments in transmission infrastructure, expanded rural electrification, strengthened coordination across the electricity value chain and continued reforms aimed at attracting private sector investment while protecting consumers.
As part of immediate interventions, Tegbe announced the inauguration of the Power Force, a programme that will engage 5,000 Nigerian youths in electricity meter installation nationwide through the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN).
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He said the initiative would help close Nigeria’s metering gap while developing a skilled workforce for the electricity industry.
The minister also disclosed that the government had made significant progress in resolving long-standing challenges surrounding meter procurement.
He added that improvements in electricity generation were beginning to yield results, noting that the national grid had consistently recorded generation above 5,000 megawatts over the past two weeks.
“Our ambition is clear. Reliable electricity that powers our homes. Competitive electricity that powers our industries. Sustainable electricity that attracts investment. Inclusive electricity that reaches every Nigerian,” Tegbe said.
The renewed commitment comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to improve electricity access, strengthen the financial sustainability of the power sector and accelerate reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
