The Minister of Power in Nigeria, Adebayo Adelabu, has made it clear that the government will not tolerate any electricity distribution companies, known as DisCos, that do not provide at least 20 hours of electricity to customers in the Band A category. This announcement comes in the wake of a recent tariff hike that has stirred controversy among Nigerians.

Adelabu emphasized that the tariff increase is specifically aimed at customers in the Band A category who receive a minimum of 20 hours of power supply. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently raised the electricity tariffs for Band A customers from N66 per kilowatt-hour to N225 per kilowatt-hour, sparking outrage among the public.

In light of the tariff adjustment reform, Adelabu highlighted several key provisions, including the government’s projected savings of N1.5 trillion through the tariff adjustment and the continued subsidy for customers in bands below A. He also mentioned that the pricing changes are intended to boost liquidity in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and that DisCos failing to meet the 20-hour supply requirement for Band A customers will face sanctions, although the nature of these sanctions was not specified.

The Nigerian Society of Engineers has also weighed in on the issue, urging NERC to enforce strict penalties on DisCos that do not meet the 20-hour power supply mandate for Band A customers.

As the Nigerian government takes steps to ensure reliable electricity supply for its citizens, the enforcement of sanctions on non-compliant DisCos will be a crucial aspect of maintaining accountability and transparency in the country’s power sector.