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Light reportedly went out, while the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, was addressing the National Assembly in Abuja on the challenges being faced by his ministry, which is responsible for electricity generation that has been considered abysmal by many.
It was learnt that Adelabu was in the midst of answering questions from the lawmakers during an investigative hearing on the rising electricity prices, organized by the Senate Committee more learned, when the incident happened, however, the power was swiftly restored within five minutes.
Reflecting on the power interruption, Eyinnaya Abaribe, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, expressed his concern over the implications of the minister’s remarks regarding the stability of electricity in the country.
He said, “You see what just happened. This is what we all experience. We, the Senators, experience it too, and I am sure even the President does experience it at the Villa, just that he cannot speak out like we are.”
Naija News reports that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), under the guidance of the Federal Government, recently approved a significant increase of 340% in electricity tariff for customers classified under Band A.
As stated by the Vice Chairman of NERC, Musliu Oseni, customers in Band A will now be required to pay N225 per kilowatt hour, compared to the previous rate of N66. It is important to note that Band A customers are those who receive 20 hours of electricity supply daily.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that customers falling under this classification makeup 15% of the total 12 million electricity customers in Nigeria.
However, it is worth mentioning that customers in other bands will not be affected by this tariff review.
In response to the recent increase, the update has summoned the Minister to explain and justify the decision.
Recall that the power minister while addressing the National Assembly on Monday had warned that there would be total blackout in the country in the next three months if the proposed electricity tariff hike is not implemented.
Even as he said that the sum of $10 billion is needed yearly for the next ten years to revive the nation’s power sector and nip in the bud the challenges bedeviling it.