Atiku To FG: Increasing Electricity Tariff After Lockdown Misguided

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has faulted the federal government for increasing electricity tariff at a time the country had just come out of COVID-19 lockdown.

Atiku said it was ‘ill-timed’ and ‘ill-advised’ for the government to impose tariff increase on Nigerians who have not earned income for about five months.

“I reject the increased electricity tariffs. Coming out of the lockdown, Nigerians need a stimulus, not an impetuous disregard for the challenges they face. Many Nigerians have not earned an income for months, due to no fault of theirs. This increase is ill-timed and ill-advised,” the former vice president said in a Facebook post.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on March 29 announced lockdown of Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The federal government had subsequently imposed nationwide travel ban which lasted for several months.

Meanwhile, the federal government on Wednesday increased the ex-depot price of petrol to N151.56 per litre. Consequently, oil marketers increased the pump price of the product to N161 per litre from N148.

Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, also faulted the timing of the electricity and petrol price increases.

“America plans a new $2 trillion stimulus for citizens in the wake of #COVID19. Ghana has been paying utility bills for citizens for months. And Nigeria’s answer to COVID19 is to increase electric and fuel prices?” Omokri queried.