Minister of Power Apologizes for Controversial Electricity Tariff Comment

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has issued an apology to Nigerians for his recent statement regarding electricity consumption habits and low tariffs.

In an interview on Channels TV, the Minister expressed regret, stating, “Anything we have said that is considered offensive, we are sorry about that.”

Adelabu had faced criticism for suggesting that Nigerians keep freezers on for days due to low electricity tariffs. He clarified that his intention was to offer advice on energy consumption management, particularly in light of recent tariff increases affecting Band A consumers.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently announced a tariff increase for customers enjoying 20 hours of power supply daily. This move has been met with widespread disapproval, given the economic challenges faced by many Nigerians.

Adelabu emphasized that the new tariff hike would only affect approximately 1.5 million consumers out of the sector's total of about 12 million. He stressed that the advice was aimed at helping consumers manage their energy bills more effectively.