Abuja claims Nigeria has cheapest electricity, in justifying unstable supply
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Abuja has argued that Nigeria’s electricity is the cheapest in the world and the country has the most payment defaulters, in trying to justify why power supply is never stable in Africa’s most population nation.
Electricity is highly subsidised by the federal government, Senate Power Committee Chairman Gabriel Suswan (PDP, North East) said.
His view was backed by Power Minister of State Abubakar Aliyu, who compared the cost of electricity in Nigeria with those of neighbouring countries.
Both spoke at a session between lawmakers and Power Ministry officials in Abuja.
“The cost of electricity in Nigeria is the cheapest across the globe, particularly gas to Power, which is highly subsidised,” said Aliyu, who was accompanied by heads of various Power Ministry agencies.
“For example, while cost of electricity in Nigeria is 15 cent per kilowatt, it is 42 cent in Niger Republic, 23 cent in Republic of Benin, 25 cent in Mali, 28 cent in Senegal, 27 cent in Burkina Faso, etc.”
Aliyu lamented that while the government is doing everything possible to make electricity affordable and available for Nigerians, many ordinary consumers and even critical agencies of government default in the payment of bills.
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Government agencies biggest payment defaulters
Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Managing Director Sulyman Abdulaziz said the high rate of default on electricity bills by government agencies led to the recent disconnection of electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in Kaduna and Kano from the national grid, according to reporting by Vanguard.
He said although they have been temporarily reconnected, they must pay up within the 60 days grace given.
Suswam – and other committee members like Senators Adamu Aliero, Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf – suggested deduction of electricity bills from source from funds allocation to defaulting government agencies.
Suswam noted one of the complaints made by DisCos, particularly those of Kaduna and Kano, is enormous debt owed them by consumers.
“The DisCos as stated in the written complaint specifically mentioned military formations across the country, educational Institutions, state governments, etc.,” he disclosed.
