The Federal Government has ruled out an immediate electricity tariff increase, saying its attention remains focused on better supply, stronger infrastructure and consumer protection.
According to The Punch, Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe announced the decision during a national media engagement in Lagos. He said raising tariffs was not among the government’s immediate priorities.
“Our priority is not tariff increase in the immediate term,” Tegbe said. “Our objective is clear, to make electricity more available, make the grid more reliable, make the market financially sustainable and restore investor confidence.”
He explained that the government wants electricity to support businesses and national productivity rather than remain an obstacle to economic growth.
Tegbe added that the administration would continue exploring ways to protect vulnerable households while improving the power market’s financial condition.
Electricity tariff increase not immediate priority
The minister said the government’s current priorities include improving services, expanding metering and ensuring that consumers pay only for the electricity they receive.
He maintained that sustainable improvements in supply would require stronger coordination across electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
Tegbe also said reliable power could reduce business operating costs, support industrial growth and help rebuild investor confidence in the Nigerian electricity market.
The announcement offers temporary relief to households and businesses concerned about another adjustment in electricity charges.
Government begins transmission network audit
Tegbe also announced a comprehensive technical audit of Nigeria’s electricity transmission network.
He said the government could not effectively rebuild the system without first identifying its most serious weaknesses.
“One cannot effectively rebuild what one has not properly diagnosed,” the minister said.
The audit will examine ageing infrastructure, overloaded substations and weak transmission corridors. It will also identify protection failures, system bottlenecks and other operational risks.
According to Tegbe, the findings will guide investment decisions and help the government reduce system failures.
He said the exercise would also improve planning and ensure that public funds invested in the power sector deliver measurable results.
Three transmission corridors targeted
The minister described a stable national grid as the foundation of reliable electricity supply.
He announced immediate strategic investments in the Lagos, Enugu–Port Harcourt and Abuja–Kaduna–Kano transmission corridors.
The government expects the projects to strengthen the movement of electricity across regions and reduce technical losses within the system.
Tegbe said Nigerians should begin seeing visible improvements in electricity availability within the coming months.
Over the next two to three years, the government expects a stronger grid, wider electricity access and greater operational capacity.
The reforms are also expected to improve market discipline and create a more attractive environment for power-sector investors.
However, the minister stressed that achieving those targets would require disciplined implementation, coordination and measurable results.
He said the government would judge the programme by the improvements experienced by homes, businesses and industries across the country.
