Electricity: Nigerians express worry over plan to Increase tariff 

By Sampson Uhuegbu

Reactions have continued to trail the plan by the Federal government to increase electricity consumption.

  Recall ,that the tariff, according to FG, would raise the rate for customers to Two Hundred and Twenty Five Naira (N225) per kilowatt an hour, up from the existing Sixty Six (N66).

     People of the State who reacted individually, slammed the Nigerian  Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for increasing electricity tariffs even though the hardship rocking Nigerians had remained unaddressed.

   Reacting on this issue, the Imo State Chairman, Nigerian Hoteliers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Chima Chukwunyere, described the plan as one that would not be favourable to Nigerians considering, according to him, the hardtimes being experienced by the citizens as a result of high cost of living.

   Chukwunyere, who is also the Managing Director, Domino Paramount Hotels, Owerri, said, “Government should review the plan and do a fair justice to it so that everyone can not be feel the harshness. This move may lead to many private establishments in the State to shut down”.

   A  boutique owner, within the Concord  Hotels area; Mrs. Ada Nwachukwu, A Barber; Dominic Orie, A Student of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede; Obiageli Nkemdilim, A sports betting Operator; Tochukwu Nnanna and other worried residents who expressed their views  over the planned tariff increment, described it as an unconsidered action.

      They pleaded with the President, Bola Tinubu, to review the proposal, adding that Nigerians are yet to have recovered from the hiked prices of cooking gas, fuel, diesel, food items and the general cost of living.

    Meanwhile, the Imo State Coordinator of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), refused to speak to this medium, emphasizing that he has not been given a go-ahead order to so.