The Federal Government has ruled out plans to increase electricity tariffs, saying its priority is to improve power supply and move towards round-the-clock electricity across the country.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe gave the assurance on Thursday in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, during the groundbreaking ceremony for five interconnected mini-grid projects with a combined generation capacity of 17.7 megawatts and a 17.74-megawatt-hour Battery Energy Storage System.
“I want to say this clearly and without ambiguity: there is no plan to increase electricity tariffs. What we are planning is a power sector that works around the clock. Our commitment is 24/7 power,” Tegbe said.
The projects are located in Bola, Jiboye, Molade-Adelubi, Ogo Oluwa and Sooko-Elega, and are expected to supply electricity to communities across Akinyele, Ido, Ibadan North, Egbeda and Lagelu local government areas.
The minister said the mini-grids would expand access to electricity, reduce reliance on petrol and diesel generators, and support businesses, investment and job creation in the beneficiary communities.
He added that the projects formed part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and wider efforts to improve electricity access through designated energy corridors, including Lagos-Ogun, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Benin-Enugu-Port Harcourt.
According to Tegbe, the government is also working to strengthen the national grid and improve generation and transmission infrastructure across the eastern, western and central parts of the country.
He said similar electricity interventions had been implemented in communities across several states with support from the Rural Electrification Agency.
Tegbe commended Tinubu for his leadership and acknowledged the contributions of the REA, project developer Paras Energy and Natural Resources Development Limited, the World Bank and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company to the Oyo projects.
He also thanked the Oyo State Government, traditional rulers and community leaders for their support, describing their cooperation as important to the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of the projects.
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