Activist, politician, and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams, yesterday, decried the 54% price hike of electricity meters as well as that of gas, saying the sudden increase was capable of pushing Nigerians to the wall as they would be worst hit by the development.
Recall that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), had last week announced a 32.8% and 21.7% increase in the cost of electricity meters, translating to an increase in the price of a single-phase meter from the current cost of N44, 896.17 to a revised price of N58, 661.69, while a three-phase meter will now sell for N109,684.36 instead of N82,855.19.
Adams, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, lamented the new tariffs, maintaining that the present situation in the country does not call for any increase in the prices of such important products.
The Yoruba helmsman said it was difficult to explain the sudden hike in the electricity meter prices without considering the huge effect on the mass of the people, describing the move as very bad.
“The sudden increase in the prices of electricity meters, as well as the prices of gas could only worsen the present situation in the country.
“It is unfortunate that Nigerians are being reaped off in such a cruel manner, especially, by a government that prides itself as the government of the people. How can you explain a 54% increase in electricity meter prices without considering the huge effect on the mass of the people? That is very bad,” he said.
Adams, while insisting that the timing of the increase was wrong, posited that the Federal Government was deeply insensitive to the plights of the people, urging it to desist from embarking on policies that were of no interest to the people.
“Nigeria is creeping badly and prices of every commodity have reached the rooftop without any hope. I think it is very important for the Federal Government to look into the issues properly and come out with whatever outcome that can reduce the suffering of the people”, the Yoruba chieftain said.
