Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, has alleged that Nigeria ceased electricity subsidy back in 2022. According to Falana, former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, confirmed the removal of electricity subsidy during a virtual meeting in March 2022.
In an interview with newsmen, Falana also referenced a statement from Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, who claimed that the Federal Government still subsidizes electricity due to non-cost-reflective tariffs. This conflicting information has sparked debate and calls for transparency regarding the actual subsidy figures.
Earlier, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that continuing fuel and electricity subsidies could cost Nigeria N2.33 trillion in 2024, while the government’s subsidy figure stands at N3 trillion.
As electricity tariffs continue to rise, with a recent 300 percent hike approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, concerns over transparency and accountability in subsidy management persist.
Falana called for a thorough investigation into the subsidy claims and urged the Federal Government to address the discrepancies to ensure accountability and transparency in the energy sector.
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