President Tinubu Advises Nigerians to Manage Electricity Bills by Switching Off Lights
President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to enhance their skills in managing electricity bills, encouraging the public to be more mindful of their energy consumption.
In a conversation with reporters at his Bourdillon residence in Lagos on Monday, Tinubu stated, “It’s not negative to learn to manage. You learn to control your electricity bill, switch off the light, let’s learn to manage.”
The President, who also serves as the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, emphasized that he does not support price control, asserting that his administration will focus on ensuring a steady supply to the market. “I don’t believe in price control, we will work hard to supply the market,” he said.
Since Tinubu’s inauguration in May 2023, energy costs have surged, particularly with the removal of the petrol subsidy and an increase in electricity tariffs. Petrol prices have skyrocketed, rising from under N200 per litre to over N1,100 in several regions, while the naira has significantly depreciated, plunging from around N700/$ to N1,600.
On April 3, 2024, the electricity regulator raised tariff for customers said to be under the Band A classification, with customers now paying N225 kilowatt per hour from N66, a development that has been heavily criticised by many Nigerians, considering the immediacy of the tariff hike and the current hardship in the land.
Food and commodity inflation have skyrocketed as Nigerians battle what can pass for the worst cost of living crisis since the country’s independence over six decades ago but Tinubu has insisted that his reforms are necessary to set the country on the path of prosperity.
