The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has issued an apology to Nigerians for his recent remark suggesting that they leave freezers on for days due to low electricity tariffs.
During an appearance on Channels TV, the Minister expressed regret, stating, “Anything we have said that is considered offensive, we are sorry about that.”
Adelabu had faced criticism for his comment, which was perceived as insensitive. He had previously remarked that Nigerians lack the culture of managing electricity consumption due to the perceived affordability of power supply. This statement came after the government announced a tariff increase for Band A consumers, sparking public outcry and calls for his resignation.
In his apology, Adelabu clarified that his intention was not to insult Nigerians but to offer advice on energy consumption management, aimed at reducing energy bills. He emphasized that the advice was directed at those expected to benefit from the increased power supply resulting from the tariff adjustment.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had recently raised the electricity tariff for customers enjoying 20 hours of daily power supply under the Band A classification. This move, criticized by many Nigerians, was implemented amidst prevailing economic challenges.
Adelabu further explained that the tariff hike would affect only a fraction of consumers in the sector, approximately 1.5 million out of the total 12 million consumers.
