“We are sorry” — Minister of Power to Nigerians

In a public address on Channels TV, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, extended his apologies to the Nigerian populace for remarks deemed offensive regarding electricity consumption habits. The minister had stirred controversy with his comments suggesting that individuals kept freezers running for days due to low electricity tariffs.

Addressing the nation, the Minister of Power expressed remorse, stating,

“Anything we have said that is considered offensive, we are sorry about that.”

The statement came amidst widespread backlash following his earlier assertion, which was interpreted as disparaging towards Nigerians’ energy management practices.

The minister’s initial remarks, made during a press briefing in Abuja, attributed a purported lack of energy conservation to the affordability of power supply.

He had issued the statement in the wake of the government’s announcement of a tariff hike for Band A consumers, a move that drew sharp criticism and calls for his resignation.

Clarifying his stance, Adelabu asserted that his intention was not to offend but to offer guidance on energy conservation strategies. The Minister of Power goes on to emphasize that the advice was targeted at consumers expected to benefit from increased power availability following the tariff adjustment.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had recently implemented a tariff increase specifically affecting customers enjoying extended daily power supply.

Under the Band A classification, these consumers, estimated at around 1.5 million out of a total of 12 million, faced a significant hike from N66 to N225 per kilowatt-hour.

The timing of the tariff hike, amidst prevailing economic challenges, elicited strong criticism from various quarters. Many Nigerians expressed dismay over the immediate impact on household budgets, exacerbating the hardship faced by the populace.