A civil society organisation (CSO), Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), has warned that migrating lower-band electricity consumers to Band A may lead to widespread energy poverty in Nigeria.

RDI’s executive director, Philip Jakpor, issued the warning in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Minister of power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced plans on Feb. 27 to regularise electricity tariffs for Bands A, B, and C customers.

Mr Adelabu said the plan aimed to improve power sector efficiency, ensure reliability, and attract investment to strengthen the industry.

He added that tariff regularisation would help unlock the sector’s full potential and drive further improvements in power generation and distribution.

Mr Jakpor warned that the planned migration could worsen Nigeria’s energy crisis, burdening low-income citizens who have already suffered from the unsuccessful 2013 power sector privatisation.

“RDI believes this decision will increase the number of Nigerians facing energy poverty, with serious implications for businesses, healthcare services, and national development.

“It is deeply concerning that, while the World Bank rates Nigeria as the country with the largest electricity access deficit, the government is pushing more citizens into darkness,” he said.

Mr Jakpor stated that RDI supports the Nigeria Labour Congress’s view that the power sector’s challenges represent systemic injustice and economic oppression of ordinary Nigerians.

“How else can one explain a privatisation process that has only led to higher costs, frequent power outages, and repeated national grid collapses?” he asked.

According to him, there is a stark gap in electricity access between urban and rural areas.

Citing the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, he noted that 25 per cent of manufacturing firms had shut down due to power sector challenges.

Mr Jakpor criticised the electricity band system, arguing that it had created an unnecessary class divide.

He said it prioritised access for the wealthy, who could afford rising costs while depriving poorer citizens who were already struggling.

He called for reversing power sector privatisation and adopting a multi-faceted strategy that encourages investment in renewable energy.

Mr Jakpor said this approach would complement the national grid through a public-public partnership model that draws on successful public sector solutions.

(NAN)