The federal government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), have agreed to implement deregulation of the oil industry downstream sector that will see government withdraw from paying subsidy on petrol.
The agreement which followed conclusion of its Article IV consultation with Nigeria will equally end subsidy in the electricity sector by mid-2021.
On September 8, 2020, the Federal Government said its removal of petrol subsidy and the increase in electricity tariff were in agreement with reforms requested by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as it seeks financial assistance of $3.4bn from IMF.
According to the Washington-based Fund, the federal government had promised to see to the end of tariff shortfalls that led to their re-emergence.
“They expressed strong commitment to prevent fuel subsidies from resurfacing and to fully eliminate electricity tariff shortfalls by mid-2021.
“They believe that lifeline tariffs and other relief measures are adequate to protect poorer households from increases in electricity prices and highlighted the benefits from higher and more predictable availability.”
Although the Nigerian government had in March 2020 removed petrol subsidy, it however returned following rise in price of crude oil at the international market.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC had also severally attempted to increase electricity tariffs to reduce nagging shortfalls challenges in the electricity sector, however, its efforts had met with backlashes from labour unions.
The President, World Bank Group, Mr David Malpass, had met with the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, on April 8 where the need to eradicate energy subsidies among other issues were discussed.
