Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, has reassured citizens that efforts are underway to reduce electricity costs in the coming months, as the government intensifies its push to improve power generation and distribution nationwide, News About Nigeria reports.
During a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Tosin Adeyanju, and his team at the Ministry of Power’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, Adelabu said that while many Nigerians, particularly Band A consumers, have expressed concerns about electricity costs, the current rates are still cheaper than running diesel or petrol generators, given the high prices of those fuels.
“Nigerians can be assured of a reduction in the cost of electricity with the current effort to step up generation and distribution of power in the country,” the minister said.
He also noted that Nigeria’s electricity prices remain among the lowest in Africa, even compared to neighbouring countries like Togo, Mali, and the Niger Republic.
However, he acknowledged that the relatively low-income levels in Nigeria make the cost of electricity seem high for many consumers.
Adelabu also shared the progress made in power supply since he assumed office, noting that more than 40% of Nigerians now enjoy up to 20 hours of electricity daily, thanks to the government’s ongoing reforms.
This improvement, he said, is part of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, aimed at revitalising the economy through enhanced power infrastructure.
The minister credited the generation of more than 5,500 megawatts of electricity as one of the major achievements of the ministry over the past year, with plans to increase that figure before the year ends.
During the visit, Adeyanju praised Adelabu’s leadership, stating that his tenure has brought a huge improvement in the electricity supply, which had previously driven many Nigerians to rely on solar power.
“You have restored people’s confidence in the sector since you came on board,” Adeyanju said, commending the minister for his competence and performance.
