No Immediate Plan to Increase Electricity Tariff, Says Tegbe

The Federal Government has dismissed reports suggesting an imminent increase in electricity tariffs, assuring Nigerians that there are no immediate plans to review current rates.

Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, gave the assurance on Friday during a media interactive session in Lagos, where he outlined the government’s ongoing reforms aimed at improving electricity supply across the country.

Tegbe said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains focused on expanding access to electricity, strengthening the national grid and ensuring that consumers receive fair value for the services they pay for.

He explained that the Presidential Metering Initiative is central to the government’s strategy of achieving universal metering, noting that every electricity consumer deserves transparency and should only pay for energy actually consumed.

According to the minister, the current reforms signal a new phase of openness, accountability and collaboration within 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,” Tegbe said.

He added that the government’s long-term goal is to transform electricity into a driver of economic growth rather than a barrier to industrial development.

Tegbe noted that the Tinubu administration has continued to prioritise investments in transmission infrastructure, rural electrification and institutional reforms designed to attract private sector participation while protecting public interest.

He also announced the launch of the Power Force programme, an initiative that will recruit 5,000 Nigerian youths to install electricity meters nationwide.

The programme, he said, is expected to reduce the country’s metering gap while creating employment opportunities and developing technical skills through the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria.

The minister disclosed that the government has also made progress in addressing challenges surrounding meter procurement and electricity generation.

According to him, national grid output has remained above 5,000 megawatts consistently over the past two weeks, reflecting improvements in power generation and transmission.

“Our ambition is clear: reliable electricity that powers our homes, competitive electricity that powers industries, sustainable electricity that attracts investment and inclusive electricity that reaches every Nigerian,” he said.

Tegbe further revealed that the Federal Government intends to phase out electricity subsidy payments from 2027 as part of broader efforts to create a financially sustainable power sector while continuing reforms aimed at improving service delivery nationwide.