Electricity consumers in Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states have expressed frustration over the recent hike in electricity tariffs, describing it as unfair given the persistent power shortages across the country.
A survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed widespread dissatisfaction, with many residents criticizing the move as exploitative. They argued that the government should prioritize improving electricity supply rather than increasing tariffs.
Experts and Residents Speak Out
Mr. Sadiq Adewale, a former Vice-President of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) in the South-West, attributed the country’s unreliable power supply to outdated equipment used by power generation and distribution companies (gencos and discos). He emphasized that unless these obsolete infrastructures were replaced, ensuring a stable power supply would remain difficult.
Similarly, Mr. Abiodun Ogunyomi, a resident of Ile-Ife, lamented that poor electricity supply had severely affected businesses, calling the tariff hike a sign of the government’s disregard for the struggles of ordinary citizens.
Mr. Dara Olagoke from Osogbo shared a similar sentiment, stating that electricity in his area, Agunbelewo, was highly unreliable. “How do they expect people to cope? There isn’t regular power supply, yet they increase tariffs. This is unacceptable,” he said.
IBEDC Responds to Complaints
In response to the concerns, Mrs. Kikelomo Owoeye, Senior Communication Officer at Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), explained that poor power supply was due to several challenges, including low energy allocation from gencos. She highlighted issues such as grid disturbances, energy theft, meter tampering, vandalism, and non-payment of bills, which have all contributed to the electricity crisis.
Owoeye stated that IBEDC distributes electricity based on customer bands, with Band A receiving 20 hours of power daily, Band B getting 16 hours, Band C 12 hours, Band D 8 hours, and Band E 4 hours. She added that the company was working on improving infrastructure and maintenance.
Residents Struggle with High Bills and Poor Service
Many residents expressed frustration over high electricity bills despite unreliable service. Mr. Sunday Ajibade, a landlord in Ado-Ekiti, complained that some households received monthly bills as high as ₦25,000 or more, with no corresponding improvement in supply.
Mrs. Iyabo Ogundele, a frozen foods seller, and Mr. Joel Ilesanmi, a barber, both noted that their businesses were suffering due to the high cost of running generators. Ilesanmi urged the government to ensure that all consumers received prepaid meters to prevent overbilling.
Similarly, Mr. Kehinde Owolabi, a hospitality entrepreneur, called for investment in renewable energy sources like solar and wind to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and enhance energy security.
Some consumers, like Mrs. Abiodun Ibiwoye, have resorted to alternative energy sources such as solar power to sustain their businesses. Others, like Mr. Solomon Ogunlola, have switched to energy-efficient appliances to cope with rising costs.
Calls for Reforms and Government Action
Several stakeholders, including Mr. James Anifowose, a welder, demanded the revocation of licenses for underperforming electricity distribution companies. Anifowose said he often relied on generators due to the poor power supply in his area.
In Akure, Mrs. Kehinde Aruleba predicted strong support for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike against the tariff hike, saying that many households were burdened with excessive bills despite receiving little to no power.
Dr. Foluso Taiwo, Secretary of the NLC in Ekiti, highlighted the impact of obsolete transformers on electricity distribution, stating that many were outdated and unable to meet growing demand. He also criticized successive civilian governments for failing to complete power generation projects, despite Nigeria’s abundant gas resources.
Taiwo stressed that corruption in the power sector remained a major obstacle to achieving uninterrupted electricity supply, calling for urgent reforms to address the crisis.
As frustration mounts, Nigerians continue to demand accountability from both the government and power companies, insisting that improved electricity supply must come before any tariff increases.
