Nigeria: No Immediate Plans to Raise Electricity Tariffs - Tegbe

Nigeria's Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has reiterated that the Federal Government has no immediate plans to increase electricity tariffs, speaking after commissioning a 3-megawatt captive solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja.

"There are no immediate plans to increase electricity tariffs. Our goal is to build a commercially viable power sector while protecting vulnerable consumers," Tegbe told journalists.

He said the government's priority is to improve service delivery, expand access to reliable electricity and accelerate universal metering under the Presidential Metering Initiative, so that Nigerians pay only for what they consume.

Tegbe added that electricity generation has steadied at around 5,000 megawatts in recent weeks, and that the government is focused on grid reliability, clearing legacy debts and attracting investment into the sector.

New solar hybrid plant to cut university's diesel use

The 3-megawatt project commissioned at Yakubu Gowon University is designed to provide stable, cleaner electricity to the institution's roughly 58,726 students, significantly reducing its reliance on diesel-powered generators.

Developed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under Phase II of the Energising Education Programme, the project comprises a 3.3-megawatt-peak solar array, 3 megawatts of AC output and a 2-megawatt-hour battery storage system, backed by dedicated grid supply for hours outside solar generation.

The rollout also includes 388 solar-powered street lights across the campus, intended to improve visibility and security for students and staff after dark.

Tegbe said the commissioning reflects the Federal Government's broader commitment to improving the quality and reliability of electricity supply while pursuing reforms to strengthen the sector's long-term sustainability.

He added that the administration is focused on addressing the structural and financial challenges facing the sector, while ensuring that improvements in supply are matched by greater efficiency and accountability across the electricity value chain.

According to Tegbe, universal metering remains a major priority, since it would promote more accurate billing, improve transparency and ensure consumers are charged based on measured consumption rather than estimates.

Clarification follows debate over possible subsidy changes

The Federal Government's latest comments come amid renewed political debate following earlier remarks by the minister that were interpreted as suggesting a possible removal of electricity subsidies, which had raised concerns about a further tariff adjustment.

Tegbe stressed that tariff increases are not currently under consideration, with the government instead focused on improving service delivery and strengthening consumer confidence.

The administration assured that it continues to examine reforms to the electricity subsidy framework as part of broader efforts to address the sector's longstanding financial challenges, while maintaining that any such reforms must take the needs of vulnerable consumers into account.

The government said its overall objective is to build a financially sustainable, investment-friendly electricity market capable of supporting infrastructure development, improving generation and distribution, and delivering more reliable power to households, businesses and public institutions.