PHCN’s hideous tariff hike

I read somewhere recently that the government said it preferred that consumers be metered than for PHCN to hike tariffs. Either the government is not aware of what is happening in the power sector or it is duplicitous and complicit. PHCN has silently been adjusting its tariff without any commensurate improvement in service delivery. I got to know this — and with empirical evidence — last week when I recharged. I usually do this on a yearly basis. PHCN surreptitiously reviews tariff upward and/or upgrades end-users from a lower-paying to a higher-paying Band without notice. On September 22nd, 2025, I bought 1488.8 KWh for N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) only. Almost one year later, specifically on September 16, 2026, the same N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) could only fetch me 1015.5 KWh, a loss of 473.3 KWh! A whopping 46.61% increase within a space of one year without any commensurate improvement in services provided! Tell me, where are we going in this country?

ALSO READ: Tinubu to Nigerians: Give me more time to finish reforms

When the government flaunts parameters and economic indices indicating that things are looking up, but citizens counter that their life isn’t improving, it is because of hidden and hideous costs such as PHCN’s that are not allowing the common man to enjoy the fruits of government’s efforts at revamping the economy. Must we fold our arms and look — and suffer in silence?