Nigerians Report Improved Power Supply Amid Rising Electricity Tariffs

Nigerians Report Improved Power Supply Amid Rising Tariffs
Abuja, Sokoto, Ondo South still battle poor power and blackouts.
Tariff hikes dampen relief despite prepaid meters stabilising supply.

Electricity supply has improved in several parts of Nigeria, though challenges persist, findings have shown.

Reports from Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom and parts of Yobe indicate that residents are experiencing more stable supply compared to previous years.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that in Lagos communities such as Agege, Ikorodu and Victoria Island, households confirmed noticeable improvement, while business owners said they now rely less on generators. A trader in Agege, however, lamented that higher tariffs were eroding the benefits, describing bills as “too much money for light.”

In Bayelsa, residents attributed improved supply to the state government’s repair of vandalised transmission towers, with expectations that state-owned gas turbines would further enhance power delivery. Similarly, in Delta communities like Warri and Effurun, residents reported longer hours of electricity, with business owners confirming reduced generator use.

Mixed reactions were recorded in Ogun, where some communities reported better supply while others remained in prolonged darkness. The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company attributed persistent challenges to vandalism, debt, and infrastructure deficits. In Akwa Ibom, Osun and Ekiti, supply was described as relative, with Band A customers enjoying up to 18 hours daily, while others continued to face irregular service.

Conversely, residents of Abuja, Sokoto, Ondo South and parts of Yobe decried epileptic supply, frequent blackouts, and soaring costs. In Abuja, households said they barely receive 10 hours of supply despite tariff hikes. Communities in Ondo South complained of being in blackout for years, while Sokoto residents claimed the erratic supply had crippled businesses.

Energy experts noted that prepaid meters had improved grid stability but acknowledged that high tariffs remained a burden. The Federal Government earlier promised to raise generation to 6,000MW by end of 2024, but supply has since fluctuated between 4,000MW and 5,000MW.