A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating in Borno State has issued a plea to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), urging for an exemption from the recent 230% electricity tariff hike for the state.
Their request stems from the ongoing efforts to rebuild and recover from the devastating impact of the Boko Haram insurgency.
The Executive Director of the CSO network in Borno State, Bulama Abiso, expressed deep concern over NERC’s decision to increase electricity tariffs, stating that it fails to consider the challenges faced by the people of Borno State.
“It came to us as a great shock, the recent announcement by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on the increase in electricity tariff without putting into account the current predicaments faced by the people of Borno State.”
Abiso emphasized the need for the federal government, NERC, power generation and transmission companies, the Borno State Government, and other stakeholders to reconsider this policy, given the state’s fragile recovery status.
“We are appealing to the Federal Government, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Generation Companies, Transmission Companies of Nigeria, the Borno State Government and all other relevant stakeholders to support the reversal of this anti-people policy, considering the current recovery status of the state.”
The CSOs highlighted the frustration caused by the distribution of electricity bills for February and March without corresponding access to electricity from the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC).
They pointed out that households in Borno State are burdened by estimated billing due to the suspension of free meter installations, which were supposed to be provided but are now reportedly being sold at high prices.
In light of these issues, Abiso urged the YEDC to resume the free distribution and installation of metering systems to every household in Borno State.
“Consequently, we are requesting that YEDC resumes the free distribution and installation of the metering system to every household in Borno state.”
Additionally, the CSOs called for improvements in the distribution capacity of the YEDC to meet the electricity demands of Maiduguri and its environs effectively.
