Joe Igbokwe Laments Electricity Tariff Hike, Says Nigerians Now Switch Off ACs, Fridges to Survive

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has raised the alarm over the soaring cost of electricity in Nigeria, revealing that he and many other citizens have resorted to switching off air conditioners, refrigerators, and lights to cope with the financial burden brought about by the new tariff regime. Igbokwe, a former aide to the Lagos State government and staunch supporter of President Bola Tinubu, expressed his frustration on social media, describing the electricity charges as “outrageous” and calling on the federal government to urgently review the pricing structure. He noted that the steep rise in tariffs has forced many households, including his own, to adopt drastic power-saving measures in a bid to avoid excessive billing. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in April 2024 approved a tariff hike for Band A customers, raising the rate from ₦68 per kilowatt hour to ₦225, a move that has drawn widespread criticism. The Commission justified the increase by citing the need for a cost-reflective pricing system for customers who receive at least 20 hours of electricity supply daily. However, Igbokwe and many others argue that the policy is economically harsh and unsustainable in the current climate. According to Igbokwe, consumers are being pushed to the brink, with the cost of electricity now competing with other pressing needs. He proposed that the federal government consider reclassifying Band A customers to Band B, which has lower tariffs, to ease the pressure on both households and businesses. He added that such a step would also benefit electricity distribution companies by encouraging wider compliance and payment. Igbokwe had previously expressed similar concerns in 2024 when he lamented that ₦20,000 worth of electricity units barely lasted a day in his home. He warned that if unchecked, the high tariffs could cripple small businesses and worsen the economic challenges facing Nigerians. There has been no official response from the presidency or NERC following his latest appeal. However, his public criticism, especially as a senior APC figure, has intensified the national conversation around energy affordability and the need for government intervention in protecting consumers from crippling utility costs.