Former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi has added his voice to the growing chorus of Nigerians crying out over the devastating electricity tariff increases that have left households and businesses gasping for breath.
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If you thought your own electricity bill was giving you sleepless nights, imagine receiving a bill for N4 million* — and knowing it used to be just N500,000. That is exactly the reality former Rivers State Governor and Vice-Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), *Rotimi Amaechi, says he is now living with under the current electricity tariff regime introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Amaechi, who rarely shies away from speaking his mind, did not mince words as he voiced his frustration over the staggering hike — a 700% increase that has left even a former governor visibly shaken. If a man of his status and resources is this alarmed, one can only imagine what ordinary Nigerians — market traders, small business owners, and everyday families — are going through right now.
From Bad to Worse: Nigeria’s Electricity Wahala
Let’s be honest — electricity has never been Nigeria’s strong suit. For decades, Nigerians have endured epileptic power supply, running generators at great cost, and paying through the nose for the privilege of sitting in darkness. But the recent tariff increases have pushed things to a completely different level.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved a significant tariff hike for Band A customers — those who supposedly receive at least 20 hours of electricity per day. The government’s argument is straightforward: the old tariffs were heavily subsidised and unsustainable, and realistic pricing is needed to attract investment and improve the sector.
But here is where many Nigerians are furious — the electricity is still not there. You are being asked to pay premium prices for a service that remains, at best, unreliable. As the popular saying goes, e be like say dem dey charge us for the darkness too.
Amaechi’s Verdict on the Tinubu Administration’s Policy
Amaechi, who himself ran as a Vice-Presidential candidate against the ruling party in the 2023 elections, has been critical of several economic policies under President Tinubu. His electricity bill experience, he says, is a firsthand testament to the harsh economic realities Nigerians are facing.
His criticism joins a long list of voices — from civil society groups, labour unions, to everyday Nigerians on social media — who have described the tariff regime as anti-people and economically suffocating, especially coming on the heels of the fuel subsidy removal and the naira devaluation.
The Bigger Picture: Who Is Really Bearing the Burden?
The triple hammer of fuel subsidy removal*, **naira devaluation**, and now *electricity tariff hikes has created a cost-of-living crisis that is squeezing Nigerians from every direction. Businesses that relied on grid electricity to cut down on generator costs are now finding that the grid has become just as expensive — if not more so.
For the average Nigerian:
– Generators are gulping more petrol at record-high pump prices
– Grid electricity bills have skyrocketed beyond what many can afford
– Food prices continue to rise as production and logistics costs increase
– Salaries have largely remained stagnant
It is a perfect storm, and millions of Nigerians are caught right in the middle of it.
What Needs to Happen?
Many energy experts and analysts agree that Nigeria’s electricity sector does need reform and investment. The old model of heavy subsidisation without corresponding improvement in supply was clearly broken. However, the timing and implementation of these hikes have been widely criticised as insensitive — rolling out premium pricing without first ensuring premium service.
The demand from most Nigerians is simple: fix the light first, then talk about the bill. Until Nigerians can reliably power their homes and businesses from the grid, asking them to pay Band A prices feels less like reform and more like punishment.
When even a former governor is lamenting a N4 million electricity bill, it is a loud signal that something is deeply wrong. The government must listen — because this is not just an elite problem. From Rotimi Amaechi’s mansion to the face-me-I-face-you apartments across Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt, Nigerians everywhere are feeling this pain.
The question now is: will those in power act before the lights — and the people’s patience — run out completely?
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