The Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has declared his stand against the new electricity tariff introduced by the National Elecricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, in February.
The state Governor attributed his stand against the upward review of tariff to the improper timing of events as Nigerians are already faced with numerous economic challenges.
The governor maintained that the increment would serve to further impoverish the people of the country.
Speaking during a meeting with the Board of Directors and officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC who paid him a courtesy visit, the governor added that; “The electricity tariff is coming at a wrong time because we are facing a lot of difficulties at the moment as a nation. Niger State is a state in which most of the residents depend solely on government finances to survive and because we have not been able to industrialize the state as another avenue of generating revenue.
“Now that the government has no money, it is having a negative impact on everyone and to now request for more money in terms of tariff will make things worse. I hope something will be done about it immediately.”
Adding that his administration had spent hugely on revitalising the section by purchasing Transformers for many areas lacking power in the state, the Governor called on the leadership of AEDC to reciprocate by increasing its supply of electricity to the state by 30 megawatts.
“The people of the state are crying and many think I am in charge of power supply and also in the best position to wipe off their tears, but I am not capable of doing more than I have done.
“Please, for the sake of peace, help improve power supply in Niger State by 20 per cent margin. When this is done, the people will know that I have done my best. Not everyone understands that it is out of my control. Please, improve power distribution.”