To bring succour to more Nigerians, the Federal Government has insisted on rolling out 7 million smart meters starting this year.
Through this, it aimed to eliminate estimated billings, which many Nigerians have complained about.
They have cried out over the excruciating pains of paying for bills they never consumed, even at a period after complete blackout when transformers are bad among other issues.
While some are made to pay these unconsumed bills through the official channels and have receipts to back it up, others have complained of electricity officials going round monthly from house to house and from petty shop operators to bigger businesses to collect cash, which may not be backed up by official receipts at the end of the day.
Determined to solve these and other problems, the government believes that the smart meters will ensure that customers are really paying for what they consume.
The coming process will also ensure that government money goes directly to the Government purse.
While denying the alleged impending 65 percent electricity tariff increase, a statement issued on Monday by Olu Arowolo Verheijen, Special Adviser to the President on Energy, disclosed the goodies coming through the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI).
She stated "It has become necessary to clarify media reports suggesting an imminent 65 percent increase in electricity tariffs.
"This is a misrepresentation of what I actually said in a recent press interview. I highlighted the fact that, following the increase in Band A tariffs in 2024, current tariffs now cover approximately 65 percent of the actual cost of supplying electricity, with the Federal government continuing to subsidize the difference.
"Also, while the government is indeed committed to ensuring fairer pricing over the long term, the immediate focus is on taking decisive action to deliver more electricity to Nigerians, ensure fewer outages, and guarantee the protection of the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians."
To achieve this, she listed some priorities of the Federal Government in the power sector.
According to her, one of the most significant steps in the reform is Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), which will accelerate the nationwide rollout of 7 million prepaid meters, starting this year.
She noted that it will finally put an end to the practice of estimated billing and give consumers confidence in what they are paying for and ensure transparency in electricity charges.
Metering, she said, will also improve revenue collection across the sector and will attract the investments needed to strengthen Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
Another priority, she said, is Targeted Electricity Subsidies, aiming to re-channel support benefits from the wealthier Nigerians to those who truly need assistance.
In this direction, she said the Federal government will make electricity more affordable and accessible for millions of hardworking families.
"Settlement of Legacy Power Debt: Furthermore, the Federal government is addressing one of the major roadblocks to improved service, the mounting debts owed to power generation companies.
"For years, these debts have prevented investments in new infrastructure and hampered efforts to improve electricity supply.
"By clearing these outstanding obligations, the government is ensuring that power companies can reinvest in better service delivery, stronger infrastructure, and a more stable electricity supply for all Nigerians
"Reducing Costs for Alternative Power Generation: Through a range of fiscal incentives, including VAT and Customs Duty Waivers, the Federal Government is working to lower the cost of alternative power sources such as Compressed Natural Gas and Liquified Petroleum Gas."
The government, it said, fully understands the economic realities facing citizens and is committed to ensuring that reforms in the power sector lead to tangible improvements in people’s daily lives.
Accordingly, the statement said every policy is designed with the Nigerian people in mind - eliminating unfair estimated billing, ensuring that subsidies benefit the right people, and creating the conditions for stable, affordable electricity.
"These reforms are laying the foundation for better service delivery, expanded access to electricity for homes and businesses, and unlocking prosperity for all Nigerians." it stated
Apart from this initiative, it is important also for the government and stakeholders in the power sector to rally round to resolve the issue of frequent national grid collapse.
The National grid collapse became almost a daily occurrence few weeks back.
Besides inconveniences power outages cause consumers in their homes, its economic impact is very enormous.
Some industrial companies are completely shut down as a result of power outage, while others who can afford generator sets with the high cost of diesel and petrol ended up passing the extra costs of production of the product or service to the final consumers.
What is playing out is definitely not the desire of any nation that genuinely wants to prosper economically and come out of the woods to join its advancing contemporaries.
Another issue demanding urgent action is the frequent vandalization of power and transmission equipment in many parts of the country, resulting in total blackout.
While the security agencies should step up action to tackle this issue, the various communities should also not only ensure protection of the power equipment and infrastructure, they should timely pass necessary information to the security agencies on any abnormal movements and activities around power infrastructure.
This has always been the message of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which has continued to raise alarm over vandalism of power equipment in many parts of the country.
It was really a cheering news when a vandal was recently caught in Benue State through communal response.
TCN disclosed that the vandal was apprehended on Saturday, January 25, 2025 while vandalizing its Tower T195 along the Ugwuaji – Makurdi 330kV transmission Line at Watuolo village, Utonkon in Ado local government area of Benue State.
A statement by Ndidi Mbah, GM, Public Affairs of TCN said that the vandalism was thwarted by the vigilance of the community members, who at about 3 am noticed suspicious activity around the tower.
They promptly apprehended one of the vandals while the others escaped.
Also, knowing the strong role steady electricity play in any flourishing economy, it is high time something concrete is done for Nigeria to achieve 24 hours or near 24 hours power supply in every part of the country, everyday.
Some nations not as blessed with natural resources like Nigeria have achieved the above target or close to the above target.
So the major question is why has Nigeria been battling with this problem since attaining independence in 1960 and without success so far.
Government and other stakeholders, going forward, must come together to earnestly fight corruption in the system and liberate the power sector from this monster.
Nigerians and businesses should not continue to suffer these power outages and complete blackout.
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