By Ayomide Otitoju
The Federal Government has ruled out any immediate increase in electricity tariffs, saying its priority is to improve service delivery, expand access to reliable power and accelerate universal metering across the country.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, stated this while speaking with journalists after commissioning a 3MW captive solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja.
Tegbe said improving electricity supply and achieving universal metering remained key priorities of the ministry.
“There are no immediate plans to increase electricity tariffs. Our goal is to build a commercially viable power sector while protecting vulnerable consumers,” he said.
The newly commissioned project is expected to provide stable and cleaner electricity to the university community of about 58,726 students, reducing the institution’s reliance on diesel-powered generators.
Developed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under Phase II of the Energising Education Programme (EEP), the project comprises a 3.3MWp solar array, 3MW AC output and a 2MWh battery storage system.
It is also supported by dedicated grid supply outside solar generation hours.
The project includes 388 solar-powered streetlights across the campus to improve visibility and security for students and staff.
The minister said the project demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the quality and reliability of electricity supply while implementing reforms to strengthen the long-term sustainability of the power sector.
He said the government was addressing the structural and financial challenges facing the sector while seeking greater efficiency and accountability across the electricity value chain.
According to Tegbe, universal metering remains a major priority because it will improve billing accuracy, enhance transparency and ensure consumers are charged based on measured electricity consumption.
The clarification comes amid concerns over a possible further adjustment to electricity tariffs following discussions around reforms to the sector’s subsidy framework.
Tegbe, however, said tariff increases were not an immediate consideration, stressing that the government was focused on improving service delivery, expanding metering and strengthening consumer confidence.
He added that any reforms to the electricity subsidy framework would take into account the needs of vulnerable consumers while addressing the sector’s longstanding financial challenges.
The Federal Government said its broader objective is to build a financially sustainable and investment-friendly electricity market capable of supporting infrastructure development, improving generation and distribution, and delivering more reliable power to households, businesses and public institutions.
