Residents of Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State, are voicing their dissatisfaction with recent electricity tariff hikes, particularly affecting customers classified as “Band A” users.
The tariff increase, amounting to a substantial 240 percent, has sparked concerns among consumers who are experiencing discrepancies between the promised and actual power supply.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, defended the hike, asserting that it only applies to customers enjoying 20 hours of daily electricity supply.
However, investigations reveal inconsistencies in supply versus billing, with some residents receiving as little as 3 to 4 hours of power per day.
Despite opposition from organized labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the federal government remains firm in its decision to implement the tariff hike.
According to Adelabu, only 1.5 million out of 12 million users fall under the higher tariff category.
Residents, particularly those within Port Harcourt’s Elekahia Housing Estate, expressed frustration over inflated bills on their prepaid meters.
Local business owner, Sam Onos, highlighted the adverse effects of high bills and irregular power supply on profits, echoing sentiments of economic hardship among affected residents.
While some residents lamented the worsening of economic hardship, others expressed willingness to pay the increased tariffs if accompanied by the promised 20 hours of daily power supply.
Efforts to obtain insights from Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) remained unsuccessful, with their media department inaccessible even after 24 hours of contact.
The tariff hike has substantially reduced the purchasing power of consumers, with N1,000 now affording only four units of electricity compared to the previous twelve units. Additionally, the cost of a single unit has risen to approximately N227.
The NLC has issued warnings against the hike, with its Head of Information, Benson Upah, cautioning of potential consequences if tariffs are not reverted to previous levels.
Alex Agwanwor, the NLC Rivers State Chairman, echoed these sentiments, citing economic hardship and the implementation of the new minimum wage as reasons for reverting tariffs.
Credit: Newsdesk
