By our Correspondent
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has reiterated that the Federal Government has no plans to increase electricity tariffs nationwide, saying its priority is to improve power supply and ensure reliable electricity for Nigerians.
Tegbe gave the assurance on Thursday at the groundbreaking ceremony for a 17.7-megawatt (MW) interconnected mini-grid project in Ibadan.
“I want to say this clearly and without ambiguity: there is no plan to increase electricity tariffs. What we are planning is improved power supply that will serve the people round the clock. Our commitment is 24/7 power,” he said.
He said the project, facilitated by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding electricity supply, improving reliability and translating power-sector investments into economic opportunities.
According to him, the government’s priority extends beyond expanding infrastructure to ensuring that additional generation capacity supports businesses, industries, productive enterprises and households.
“Our objective is clear: to increase the quantum of electricity available to Nigerians, improve the reliability of supply and ensure that electricity becomes an enabler of productivity, investment and economic growth,” he said.
Tegbe added that the project demonstrated how government commitments were being translated into infrastructure to serve communities and strengthen economic clusters.
He said the initiative complemented ongoing Federal Government interventions to improve electricity generation, transmission and distribution nationwide.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the REA, Abba Aliyu, said the project represented more than 17.7MW of additional generation capacity, describing it as part of a broader pipeline of investments being facilitated by the agency.
Aliyu said reliable electricity would enable businesses to operate longer, reduce dependence on expensive self-generation, increase productivity, attract investment and create jobs.
He added that the agency was demonstrating how distributed energy solutions could go beyond expanding electricity access to become a key driver of power reliability and economic development across Nigeria. (GSF)
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