Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, has warned that there will be a total blackout in the country in the next three months if the proposed electricity tariff hike is not implemented.
The minister stated this in Abuja on Monday, April 29, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Power at an investigative hearing over the recent electricity tariff hike by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Adelabu states that “the entire sector will be grounded if we don’t increase the tariff. With what we have now for the next three months, the entire country will be in darkness if we don’t increase tariffs.
“The increment will catapult us to the next level. We are also Nigerians; we are also feeling the impact.”
He added that the sum of $10 billion is needed annually for the next ten years to revive the nation’s power sector and nip in the bud the challenges bedeviling it.
“For this sector to be revived, the government needs to spend nothing less than 10 billion dollars annually in the next 10 years.
“This is because of the infrastructure requirement for the stability of the sector. But the government cannot afford that. And so we must make this sector attractive to investors and lenders.
“So, for us to attract investors and investment, we must make the sector attractive, and the only way it can be made attractive is that there must be commercial pricing.
“If the value is still at N66 and the government is not paying subsidies, the investors will not come. But now that we have increased the tariff for A Band, interests are being shown by investors,” he said.
Reacting to the minister’s statement, Alexander QM, in a statement on X, said, “Minister, your warning sounds like a threat. So the proposed tariff hike is the only solution to avoid a total blackout?
“What about exploring alternative energy sources, improving transmission infrastructure, or promoting energy efficiency? Let’s think outside the box.”
San Jay, in his reaction, said, “I don’t even blame him. I just don’t know what the country did to deserve these people.
“Tariff hike on epileptic power supplies. Get the power sorted, and when people have a 24-hour power supply, you can increase the tariff to whatever you want.
“Only those who can afford it will be able to get it, but no! You’re already threatening citizens with power outages that they’ve been experiencing since probably when they were born. Joke of a nation. Oyo state dodges a rocket.”
Precious Amurika described Adelabu as “a useless minister who has no knowledge of what power supply means but has brought nothing but total darkness to Nigerians since he came on board. I blame the engineer who gave the job to a carpenter.”
Kenee Egbo mentioned that Adelabu “is a bloody liar. You cannot increase tariffs by 300% just to appease Discos, Gencos, TCN, and politicians who have invested for immediate profit. No. They should explain to us what they used the N400bn given to them by the FG for. They should drop Tarrif to 15%. ”
He was also described as “the worst minister in the Tinubu administration, only making mouths. Please tell him that action speaks louder than voice” by Olayemi.
Another X user, Stuffo, alleged that “this man is a criminal; he just wants to hold Nigerians hostage so that the new tariff can scale. If Nigerians buy the nonsense, we are in for it.”
Igbalagh Emmanuel berated President Bola Tinubu-led administration for allegedly making “life miserable” for the populace.
“This government just wants life miserable for every single person. First, it was unnecessary removal of fuel subsidies; now it is a tariff hike,” Igbalagh notes.
Adm. Emmanuel Mba criticized the minister for what he described as failing to bring” any form of innovation to” the sector.
“Sorry, sir, at this point you need help in a sector you have not brought any form of innovation to; all you seek to do is a tariff hike.
“Hon. Minister, please go and resign; you lack ideas and also have the wrong people around,” Mba noted.
German Godwin described the demand for an electricity tariff hike as a lie.
Godwin mentioned, “It is a lie. The same lie that they peddled with the petroleum subsidy. Today, where is the gasoline? Excuses, excuses, everywhere. This government lies too much.”
“When these politicians talk, you’ll know they are out of touch with reality. This Minister should spend one week in the average Nigerian home; he will realize this total blackout threat is just meaningless. People are having total blackouts already!” Ohigimetor Kevin mentioned.
Raheem Taiwo urged Adelabu to resign, saying, “Please, you are advised to resign. It seems you are not capable of this. A good leader doesn’t make excuses all the time like yours.”
