Atiku kicks against new electricity tariff, says move ‘ill-timed and ill-advised’

Vice-president Atiku Abubakar on Thursday kicked against the upward review of electricity tariff in the country.

The new tariff regime, which kicked off on Tuesday, is expected to be reviewed quarterly.

The Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) also increased the ex-depot price of petrol from N138.62 to N151.56 per litre on Wednesday and the product sells between N148 and N161 across the country presently.

But reacting to the increase via his Twitter handle on Thursday, the presidential candidate of the PDP in the last election described the increment as “impetuous disregard for the challenges” faced by Nigerians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him, the new tariff is “ill-timed and ill-advised”, adding that instead of an increment, Nigerians deserve a “stimulus”.

Atiku tweeted, “I reject the increased electricity tariffs. Coming out of the lockdown, Nigerians need a stimulus, not an impetuous disregard for the challenges they face.”

“Many Nigerians have not earned an income for months, due to no fault of theirs. This increase is ill-timed and ill-advised.”