Rising Costs Push Nigerians Deeper into Energy Poverty, Says Power Chief

Nigeria’s rising inflation, unemployment, and weakening purchasing power are deepening energy poverty across the country, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Independent System Operator, Abdu Bello Mohammed, has warned. 

Speaking at the Power Correspondents Association’s annual conference in Abuja, he said millions of Nigerians can no longer afford higher electricity tariffs despite being connected to the national grid.

Mr. Mohammed described tariff design as the “heartbeat” of the power sector, stressing that it determines whether investors stay viable and consumers remain connected. He said the challenge lies in striking a balance between commercial sustainability and social fairness.

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Despite several tariff reviews in the past decade, he noted that liquidity shortfalls, poor investments, and unreliable supply continue to weaken consumer confidence and strain Nigeria’s electricity market.