Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, Thursday, said the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, chose the wrong time to introduce the new electricity tariff.
Bello while addressing Board of Directors and officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, in his office, said the new tariff will only make things worse for Nigerians who are battling with economic downturn.
According to the governor, the people of Niger State will not be able to pay the tariff about to be imposed on them by the regulators.
He said, “The electricity tariff is coming at a wrong time because we are facing lots of difficulties at the moment as a nation. My state, Niger state is a government dependent state, most of the citizens are dependent on government finances to survive and unfortunately, we have not embarked on commercial activities or industrialization.
“Now that the government has no money, it is having a negative impact on everyone and to now request for more payments in terms of tariff is making things worse. I hope something will be done about it.”
Bello while lamenting the deteriorating power situation in the state appealed to the distribution company to increase power distribution 40 megawatts in the state.
“The whole state is crying and I have not been able to help. It is an indictment to me and my government. Please for the sake of peace, help me improve power supply in Niger state by 20 percent 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”, Bello appealed.
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