Minister Issues Apology for Remarks Suggesting Nigerians Use Freezers Due to Low Tariffs

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has issued an apology to the Nigerian people for his previous statement regarding their electricity consumption habits. Adelabu expressed remorse during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, acknowledging that any offensive remarks made were regrettable. Over the past week, the minister faced significant backlash from Nigerians due to his comment, which was deemed offensive.

Adelabu initially made the statement on April 4, 2024, in Abuja, where he claimed that Nigerians lacked the ability to manage their electricity consumption due to the affordability of power supply. This statement was made following the government’s announcement of a tariff increase for Band A consumers.

The minister’s comment sparked outrage, with some individuals calling for his removal from office. However, during his recent apology, Adelabu clarified that his intention was never to insult Nigerians but rather to provide innocent advice on energy consumption management.

He believed that this advice would help reduce people’s energy bills, particularly for those who would now enjoy 20 hours of power per day due to the tariff increase. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had raised the electricity tariff for customers receiving 20 hours of power daily, categorizing them under Band A.

This increase resulted in customers paying N225 per kilowatt-hour, up from the previous N66. Many Nigerians criticized this immediate tariff hike, considering the current hardships faced by the population. Adelabu later stated that the new tariff would only affect approximately 1.5 million out of the 12 million consumers in the sector.