Bunmi Akingbade, Trader at Abesan Estate:
“Any increase in electricity tariffs will further compound the pains of Nigerians. It is not fair, what is the reason for the increase, presently power is not constant and we still pay but any attempt to increase the rate will further worsen the situation.
Godwin Agbi, School proprietor at Ipaja:
“Increase in electricity tariffs at this moment now is pure robbery, particularly for us who don’t have pre-paid meters. Even at the moment, we’re not getting service for what we’re paying now. Seriously, any increase will do a lot of damage to businesses”
Deji Akanji, Printing Press Operator, Dopemu:
“Any hike in the tariff planned by NERC will affect the market price of goods and services and the economy generally and so, no one should entertain the idea. At the moment I’m paying close to N35, 000, and it’s quite a heavy burden on my small business, to increase it again will not only inflict more pain on my strained income but also on my workers”
Kehinde Osan, Raji Oba:
The metre they promised to roll out has not been issued to customers because they are getting so much money from estimated billings. We don’t know who will rescue us from these power companies. Now they want to increase the tariff again. Na wa o.
Akin Olugbade, Teacher, Ayobo :
“Nigerians are not afraid of paying bills; our problem is not increasing the tariff for power. If MTN increases their tariff, people will still pay as long as they get the service they need; the same thing goes with the power sector. The problem of the people is where is this power? If people start getting it they will pay.
Mr. Aderemi Olarenwaju, retired civil servant
I am a retiree; concerning the increase in tariff I don’t think it is necessary now, people are already overstretched and overburden by the crazy bill issue, rather they should dissipate their energies towards rolling out prepaid meters to consumers so that at least consumers can pay for whatever they consume but what we have at present is a situation whereby Nigerians are paying through the nose for non existing power supply through the crazy billing system. Now they are coming back to impoverish the already suffering people. This is not the right time for this with the economy situation in the country. An increase in the tariff is additional burden on the consumers.
Mr. Olumuyiwa Gbadebo Lawyer
It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in such a monstrous situation in our country. Some years ago when investors came and acquired some parts of the power sector, there were agreements and expectations on their side. The questions begging for answers are what have happen to those agreements. The NERC is putting the cart before the horse. Distribution of the prepaid meters must be done 100 per cent by these power distribution companies before any form of increment or hike in tariff at the expense of consumers. We must learn to do the right thing in this country if we want to be taken serious on the global stage.
Madam Charity Idris, Businesswoman
I almost had a heart attack when l heard the news about a week ago. In my little shop where sell provision I only need light to power my fridge, but guess what I pay on a monthly basis.? I receive an estimated bill of N8, 000 from Ikeja distribution company whether they give us light or not. Now they want to increase the tariff without having to resolve all the challenges concerning prepaid meters. I have applied only God know when, all l get is excuses here and there. President Buhari must not let them get away with this increment. We didn’t vote him to provide us with darkness. It is a complete no to tariff increment.
Blessing Imasuen, Hair dresser
Where is the light that they now want to increase tariff on in the first place. These people will just wake up every morning and come up with strange policies. Imagine whenever I operate this saloon on power from the distribution company, I don’t even make up to the bill l received at the end of the month. I now concentrate on using generating set yet, the bill has not reduced. Please tell them Nigerians are tired and angry with them.
Emeka, IT professional
l don’t have any issue with increment but if they want to increase I think they should do a gradual increment. 75 per cent is way too high with consumption because even in developed nations, electricity tariff is also high but it is available. So when you come back home and look at the standard of living in Nigeria and look at the way people are struggling to make ends meet, l advise government to soft pedal on things like this and rather subsidies it. Even if they want to do an increment, maybe 15 per cent in the first instance, nothing remains the same in the first instance, since there is no price control in Nigeria, government will always want to intervene or interfere in fixing prices of things. It should rather be gradual, discos or whatever they call themselves should review the increment to something a bit friendly so that people can afford to pay.
James Osoka, industrialist
I am into foot wears and when I got the news it was a bit disturbing considering the kind of thing we are already passing through with power. First, I should think that in Nigeria today, this is not the best time to increase tariff, one, the economy is not smiling toward anybody probably because of government policies. Also, the citizens are passing through numerous challenges, no cash flow among others. They shouldn’t even be talking about the increment of electricity tariff at this time of the year. When you look at the bills they give us, like here, we have three or four shops here and they give us between N30, 000 to N35, 000 monthly, sometimes we begin to wonder if you are paying such amount for electricity, how much you are paying for rent. It is quite disheartening and alarming. I don’t think this is the best time for such exercise. It is a No No thing for me and for a number of people I know.
If at present I am paying such amount as bills, then the increment will out rightly wipe my company out of business. They don’t read meters, even when you are away, the same amount. I travelled recently and was away for 30 days, the whole gadgets in the shop were put off but when I came back, I still saw the same amount as bills for what l did not consume which is not acceptable. This are one of the reason why people are committing suicide, imaging a Medical Doctor jumped into the Lagos lagoon and died, just because of the pressure of living in this country. We that are into business we don’t get the kind of money the politicians get to offset such crazy bills. Getting a job to make money is also a herculean task. We in the business sector are saying no, it is not acceptable and we are going to do everything to make sure that it did not see the light of the day even it means protesting. As a matter of fact, we have started the mobilization for such protest against the planned increment they want to do.
