By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
The Federal Government has revealed a striking disparity in Nigeria’s electricity sector, with some rural communities paying higher tariffs than urban Band A consumers.
According to the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, tariffs in certain rural areas reach as high as ₦280 per kilowatt-hour, compared to ₦225/kWh charged to Band A customers.
Aliyu attributed the higher rates to the cost of infrastructure deployed by the agency, particularly solar mini-grids.
While rural residents often enjoy a more reliable supply, he noted that their tariffs are determined by the level of investment in each community.
The disclosure comes amid controversy over recent tariff increases by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which raised Band A rates from ₦66 to ₦225/kWh.
Critics argue that Band A customers are still not guaranteed the promised 20 hours of daily electricity, while many rural consumers, despite having more stable power, face an even heavier financial burden.
