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Nigerians Cry Out Over High Tariffs As Power Supply improves
However, alongside the improvements, many consumers decried the high electricity tariffs, which they described as unbearable.
Residents in some states complained that while supply had become relatively stable, the rising cost of power, especially for those on Band A, was eating deep into household and business finances.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission introduced the Service-Based Tariff regime in October 2023, categorising electricity consumers into five bands based on daily supply hours.
Band A customers are entitled to a minimum of 20 hours of power supply daily, Band B gets 16 hours, Band C 12 hours, Band D eight hours, and Band E four hours.
In April 2024, NERC approved a sharp tariff increase for Band A consumers, raising rates from about N66–N68 per kWh to N225 per kWh.
Band B also moved up slightly from N63 to N67 per kWh.
The Federal Government further promised that generation would hit 6,000MW by the end of 2024, but as of mid-2025, supply has fluctuated between 4,000MW and 5,000MW.
Improvement in Lagos
Residents in some parts of Lagos, including Agege, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Victoria Island, Kosofe, among others, have witnessed noticeable improvement in recent months.
A resident of Isale Oja, Agege, Asmau Ibrahim, confirmed that electricity had been more stable in the past few months.
But a trader in the area expressed frustration in paying what she described as “too much money” for the electricity supply.
“The light is stable but the money we pay at the end of the month is too much. The tariff is too high for us,” she said.
Another resident, Akeem Adeyemi, disclosed that he had to request the disconnection of electricity in his home after his building was classified under maximum demand consumers.
He described the tariff as unbearable.
Adeyemi said, “When they placed our building on maximum demand, the bills became too high. I could not cope, so I had to tell them to disconnect my house. Now, we had to fuel generator to power the building, which is lesser. Can you imagine that they gave us over N150,000 in a month for what we don’t use at all?”
A prominent member of the community, Rasheed Lawal, confirmed that electricity supply had improved in parts of Agege, though he acknowledged that challenges remained in areas yet to be metered.
A Lagos resident, Olatunde Jentry, while commenting on a Facebook post by another user, Kay Lord, said electricity had improved not only in Lagos but also in Ekiti.
“It is not only in Lagos. I have travelled home to Ekiti twice this year and there was light almost throughout the days I spent there. This last time I went, in June, there was no light the day I arrived because it was their day off. They told me the light went off at 6am and it was restored in the night, and didn’t blink again till I left on Sunday. They all testified that they enjoy light 24/7 now, except on the off-days which is about once in a week,” he wrote.
Bayelsa: Supply increased after towers repair
Residents of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said electricity supply improved after the state government restored vandalised transmission towers.
They, however, noted that the improvement was largely due to the intervention of the state government, not the Transmission Company of Nigeria or the distribution company.
A resident of Yenizue-Gene community, Bralado Nimi, expressed optimism for better power supply when the state-owned gas turbines are completed.
He said, “Electricity situation in Bayelsa has improved remarkably since the state government helped TCN to restore their vandalised towers that supply electricity to the state. But we are optimistic that as from next year, we will enjoy better power from the state-owned gas turbines which are nearing completion.”
Another resident, Lucky Nweke, a businessman in Swali community, said the improvement had impacted his business positively.
Nweke explained that prior to the improvement, he used to power his refrigerator with a generator which reduced his profits significantly.
But for about a month, he had been relying on the national grid as his area enjoyed over six hours of electricity daily.
“The improvement in electricity has helped my business because we enjoy more than six hours of power supply. It’s enough to cool my refrigerator. Before now, I used a petrol generator, which affected my profits,” he said.
Delta: Longer hours, reduced generator use
Similarly, residents of Warri and Effurun in Delta State said they had been receiving longer electricity supply in recent months.
A community leader in Effurun, Thompson Onyeama, confirmed there was noticeable improvement in electricity supply, urging the distribution company in the area to “keep up the good work.”
Onyeama said improved electricity supply would impact positively on industrial and economic activities in the state.
Similarly, a barbing salon operator at the Ginuwa Junction area of Warri, Edwin Omafuaire, said he now used less petrol to power his equipment because electricity was available for longer hours than before.
“I now procure less petrol because electricity is supplied for longer hours. We sometimes get up to eight continuous hours during the day,” he stated.
Ogun: Kudos, knocks for IBEDC
In Ogun, it is a mixture of praise and criticism for the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company over the state of power supply, even as the company disclosed that consumers in the state owed over N127bn.
While some residents acknowledged improvements in electricity, others lamented that their communities had yet to feel any change.
A resident of Idomila in Ijebu Ode, Abiodun Michael, said power had improved with supply sometimes lasting five days nonstop.
Similarly, a resident of Oke Ata, Abeokuta North, Sulaiman Fasasi, noted more stable supply averaging 15 hours daily, while Adedayo Olubunmi of Ilisan Remo said the improvement came with higher costs for those on Band A.
In contrast, residents of Onikolobo and Adigbe in Abeokuta decried epileptic supply, with a resident, Mrs Ope Gbadamosi, alleging that many had relocated due to poor electricity.
Also, a resident of Sagamu, Gbolagade Idowu, said some areas enjoyed better supply, but others such as Ogunyanwo and Ogijo had been in blackout for weeks.
The Adele of Sawonjo in Yewa North, Chief Muibi Mulero, stated that about 20 communities, including Igbogila, Imasayi, Ijoun, Oja Odan and others, had been in darkness for nearly three years, a situation he described as devastating for businesses in the axis.
However, the Public Relations Officer of IBEDC, Ogun Region, Yomi Bada, said the company was aware of the challenges and assured that efforts were underway to restore supply.
He explained that the mainline for Sawonjo and other affected communities had been completed, with full restoration expected before December.
Bada further identified vandalism, electricity theft and the debt burden as major obstacles to improved supply, adding that the company required over 1,000 transformers and other facilities to meet demand.
Akwa Ibom: Relative improvement
In Akwa Ibom, officials of Ibom Power described electricity supply as “relative.”
Speaking in an interview with one of our correspondents in Uyo, the company’s Director of Media, Peter Dada, explained that supply improvement depended on the band classification of each customer.
He said power supply in the state wouldn’t be uniform because of band differences, especially with the peculiarity of Akwa Ibom that relies on the Aba-Itu Transmission Line, which often trips off.
A community leader in Mbiabong village in Itu LGA, Ubong Umoh, also described the power supply in the state as relative, noting that while some areas enjoyed better service, others did not.
He said, “Here in Mbiabong, we have fair power supply but this is not the same in other parts of the state. I go to Uyo always; power supply there is not the same in our community.”
Also, a resident of Abak Road, Uyo, Inibasi Umo, described the power supply in the axis as fair compared to previous years.
She said, “In previous years, we don’t normally have light for days but the situation has changed a little. Now, we have power every night and they take it in the morning. Sometimes, they bring it back in the afternoon for about three hours. It wasn’t like this before, so the power supply situation is fair now.”
Another resident in the Uyo metropolis, Christian Etim, echoed the same sentiment.
Osun: Band A customers enjoy supply
In Osun State, electricity supply remains uneven as residents of major towns in the state said there had not been serious improvement in their communities.
A businessman in Olaiya, Ade Olagunju, and a resident of GRA, who spoke on condition of anonymity, both said their areas enjoyed constant supply due to their classification.
“We are on Band A in Olaiya Area. Because of that, we enjoy relatively regular power supply. But at times, we may have issues with the transformer supplying us. But the situation is not the same across the town,” Olagunju said.
But a resident of Ayekale area of the state capital, Rasheed Akintade, said his area, classified as Band C, had not been having regular power supply.
He said, “We have less than seven hours daily. Sometimes, there is no power in the day, and they restore it only at midnight. The situation is bad.”
Speaking in a similar vein, a cross section of residents of Ikire, Ede Road in Ile-Ife, Oke Afo in Ikirun, and Odo-Ori in Iwo lamented irregular power supply in their communities and demanded urgent intervention from the relevant authorities.
Abuja: Residents lament declining supply
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, decried the poor electricity supply by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, lamenting that despite an increase in tariffs, they barely received up to 10 hours of power daily.
Findings by Saturday PUNCH revealed that electricity supply was considerably better in the previous year, when households enjoyed up to 15 hours daily, compared to the present decline.
Investigations further showed that recurrent vandalism of power lines, intermittent blackouts for maintenance, faulty feeders, and national grid collapses were among the major factors that shaped Abuja’s power situation in the last eight months.
Between January 6 and 20, the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the AEDC announced a two-week blackout, running daily from 9am to 4pm, to allow for the relocation of eight transmission towers along the Apo axis for a road dualisation project.
While both TCN and AEDC have made efforts to restore supply, residents insisted that there had been no visible improvement when compared to last year.
A petty trader in Kubwa, Mistura Abu, lamented the impact of erratic supply on her business.
She said, “I remember there was a time when the AEDC announced a three-week blackout. There was no light between 9am and 4pm daily. Unfortunately, those are supposed to be the most productive hours of the day. I had to buy ice blocks to preserve food in my freezer, and the price went up because sellers relied on generators. Even now, supply only comes at night, which is of little use to us.”
Another Kubwa resident, Oche Adejoh, said his community had been without electricity for seven days due to a faulty transformer.
“I go to another street to charge my devices. Even before the transformer failed, supply was irregular—barely from 12pm to 3pm, then again from midnight to 6am. That’s less than 10 hours combined,” he added.
A youth community leader In Karu, Emmanuel Gyan, admitted they enjoyed relatively better supply but at high costs.
“Most of us here are on Band A, and this is not even a GRA. People pay as much as N2,000 per kilowatt-hour. To be fair, we get about 14 hours of supply, but the tariff is unbearable.
For those unmetered, the situation is worse. We’ve protested several times to no avail,” he said.
Source: PUNCH
The Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL) has condemned the alleged rape, severe domestic violence, mob torture and attempted murder of a 34-year-old mother of six in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State.
WACOL, in a statement signed by its Senior Communication Officer, Ezugwu Bethel, said it received the reports with “profound shock, outrage and deep sorrow,” describing the incident as a gross violation of human dignity, fundamental human rights and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2019 of Enugu State.
According to the organisation, the survivor had allegedly endured years of domestic violence at the hands of her husband, who reportedly physically assaulted her and her mother.
WACOL said the woman, in an attempt to escape the abuse, rented a separate apartment, but her husband allegedly tracked her down and attacked her on the night of July 17, forcing her to flee to her mother’s residence.
The organisation alleged that the husband followed her there and threatened to kill her if she remained, forcing her to seek refuge with a male palm kernel trader.
According to WACOL, because the trader was married, he took the woman to a friend’s house for temporary shelter. However, the organisation alleged that the friend and another resident connived to restrain the trader and raped the woman.
WACOL further alleged that the attackers subsequently locked the woman and the trader inside the house before informing her husband of their whereabouts.
The organisation claimed that the husband arrived with a mob, broke down the door and allegedly subjected the woman and the trader to severe physical abuse.
It alleged that the husband publicly raped the woman while members of the mob restrained the trader, who had reportedly attempted to help her.
WACOL further alleged that the husband took the woman’s money, used it to buy drinks for youths and other members of the community, and allegedly incited them to attack the woman and the trader.
The organisation said the mob stripped the two victims naked, spat on them and beat them severely. It further alleged that some female members of the mob used broken bottles to shave the woman’s hair, while the victims were also allegedly inflicted with multiple cutlass wounds.
According to WACOL, the severely injured woman was subsequently dragged into an “evil forest” and abandoned.
The organisation said the woman spent three days in the forest before, despite her injuries, crawling to the main road, where she was discovered by Good Samaritans who contacted her sister and facilitated her rescue.
WACOL said the survivor is currently receiving medical treatment at a police clinic while remaining in hiding for fear of further attacks.
The organisation also raised concerns over the whereabouts of the male palm kernel trader, who was allegedly tortured alongside the survivor, saying his current location remains unknown.
WACOL said the police had arrested the woman’s husband and some female accomplices, but alleged that several other suspects remained at large.
The organisation also expressed concern over alleged interference by community leaders, claiming that the traditional ruler and President General of the community had banished the survivor and her family after they reported the incident to the police.
WACOL described the alleged banishment as victim-blaming and an abuse of power, adding that the community leaders must be held accountable if found to have obstructed justice or aided criminal suspects.
The organisation commended the Enugu State Police Command for its intervention but called on the Commissioner of Police to ensure that all fleeing suspects are arrested and prosecuted.
WACOL also demanded an immediate search and rescue or recovery operation for the missing palm kernel trader.
It further called on the Enugu State Government and the Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters to investigate the alleged roles of the traditional ruler and President General, while demanding adequate security for the survivor, her sister and other family members.
WACOL said its legal and psychosocial teams had been activated to support the survivor in her recovery and pursuit of justice.
The organisation called on Nigerians, human rights groups and the media to join the campaign for justice for the mother of six.
Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has warned Nigerian youths against depending on sports betting as a pathway to wealth, saying lasting success can only be achieved through hard work, patience and integrity.
Speaking during a message to members of his congregation, the cleric described betting as a dangerous distraction capable of destroying the future of young people and preventing them from fulfilling their God-given potential.
Oyedepo urged youths to resist the growing temptation of seeking quick riches through gambling, stressing that genuine prosperity is built on diligence, discipline and purposeful living.
“Young people, 9jabet is not the way to financial fortune. Stop wasting your destiny,” he declared.
He emphasised that although the journey to success may sometimes appear slow, honest labour and consistency ultimately produce more enduring rewards than relying on luck or shortcuts.
“It may be slow, but it’s sure,” he added.
The bishop also reflected on his personal life, recalling how his mother’s unwavering faith influenced his decision to become a Christian at the age of 15.
He recounted how he later expressed his gratitude by buying her a car while she was living in the United States, describing the gift as one that brought her immense joy before her passing at the age of 92.
Using the experience to encourage young people, Oyedepo urged them to embrace faith, perseverance and gratitude instead of pursuing instant wealth through betting.
He concluded his message by urging Nigerian youths to rethink their priorities and make choices that would guarantee a brighter future.
“You better wake up,” he said.
Family members have launched a fundraising campaign to repatriate the remains of a Nigerian woman, Christiana Nwosu, who reportedly died of cardiac arrest while visiting the United Kingdom.
The information came on Monday from a GoFundMe appeal signed by Chijioke Metuka on behalf of the Nwosu family.
According to Metuka, Nwosu died on July 19, 2026, leaving her children and loved ones devastated by the sudden loss.
Metuka described the deceased as “a beacon of light, love and warmth” whose passing had created an irreplaceable void in the lives of those who knew her.
The family said its greatest wish was to honour her memory by returning her body to Nigeria for burial, where she would be laid to rest among her extended family and ancestral roots.
The appeal read, “During this time of immense grief, Izuchukwu and his family’s deepest wish is to honour her memory by laying her to rest in her homeland of Nigeria, surrounded by her extended family and roots.
“Repatriating a loved one from the UK to Nigeria comes with significant and unexpected financial burdens.”
However, the family noted that repatriating her remains from the UK would cost about £10,000, covering funeral director fees, specialist repatriation services and documentation, air freight charges, transportation, and funeral and burial expenses in Nigeria.
“We have set up this fund to support Izuchukwu and his family during this incredibly difficult time. Every single donation, no matter the size, will go directly towards covering these repatriation and funeral expenses to help ease the financial strain on the family,” the appeal read.
The organisers appealed to members of the public to support the family through donations or by sharing the fundraising campaign with others.
“If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this page with others and keeping Izuchukwu and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, generosity and support,” the statement added.
As of the time of filing this report, a sum of £7,941 had been raised out of the £10,000 target.
In February a Nigerian woman, Oluranti Akinyemi, died in the UK shortly after arriving in the country for her son’s graduation ceremony.
Her family had launched a fundraising campaign on JustGiving to raise £20,000 to repatriate her remains to Nigeria and cover related expenses.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
One person has been confirmed dead while three others sustained injuries following the collapse of a three-storey building in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The building, which reportedly housed students of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, collapsed on Sunday night, trapping some occupants beneath the rubble.
The injured survivors were rescued and taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital and St. Michael’s Hospital, Oko, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government has sealed off the site of the collapsed building, reaffirming its commitment to stricter enforcement of physical planning regulations and the elimination of unsafe construction practices.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barrister Chijioke Ojukwu, said preliminary findings indicated structural failure as the likely cause of the collapse.
He announced the immediate closure of the site pending comprehensive investigations and structural integrity assessments.
Ojukwu said the incident would mark a turning point in the enforcement of building regulations across the state, warning that owners and developers of defective or non-compliant structures would face sanctions.
He added that ongoing construction projects would also be subjected to stricter inspections.
The Commissioner for Works, Arc. Okey Ezeobi, said technical investigations were ongoing to determine the exact cause of the collapse, adding that a team of professionals had been deployed to conduct a comprehensive structural evaluation.
Ezeobi assured residents that recommendations arising from the investigation would be implemented to strengthen the state’s building control system, prevent future occurrences and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said medical personnel and ambulances were immediately deployed to the scene to provide emergency care for the injured.
He said the Ministry of Health worked closely with other emergency response agencies throughout the rescue operation.
Obidike commended the swift and coordinated response of the Anambra State Government and emergency agencies, describing it as crucial to the rescue efforts and the timely medical treatment of the victims.
The Mayor of Orumba North Local Government Area, Rtd. Capt. Casmir Nwafor, also praised the rapid intervention of the state government and emergency responders, noting that their coordinated efforts helped contain the situation and minimise further risks.
Nwafor urged developers, property owners, institutions and residents to strictly comply with approved building regulations and safety standards, reaffirming the local government’s support for the enforcement of physical planning laws.
An eyewitness, Prince Ifeanyi Ezefunamba, said the building, reportedly occupied by students of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, collapsed at about 10:00 p.m. after occupants heard cracking sounds and began evacuating.
He said one survivor, Miss Chioma Akabike, narrowly escaped moments before the building collapsed, while rescue operations commenced immediately.
A traveller who arrived in Abuja aboard an Enugu Air flight has praised the airline for its service, describing the flight as smooth, calm and comfortable despite unfavourable weather conditions.
The traveller, Wordshot Amaechi Ugwele, in a viral social media post said Enugu Air had become a source of pride for the South-East and had significantly improved connectivity between Enugu and other parts of Nigeria.
Ugwele said the airline’s expansion to destinations including Benin and Kano had made air travel more accessible to residents of the region.
He said, “Today, our people can also fly directly from Enugu to Kano, a travel convenience that would have seemed unimaginable not too long ago, until Enugu Air made it a reality.”
Ugwele also commended Enugu State Governor, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for what he described as his vision, meticulous planning and disciplined execution in driving development across the state.
According to him, the governor’s achievements in infrastructure, connectivity and economic transformation had contributed to Enugu’s emergence as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing states.
He said the establishment and expansion of Enugu Air demonstrated the administration’s commitment to improving transportation and connecting Enugu with other parts of the country and beyond.
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