‘Your excuses cannot light single home’ – Atiku knocks Tinubu over blackout
Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, criticized President Bola Tinubu on Sunday regarding the ongoing electricity crisis in Nigeria.
In a statement released by his senior media aide, Phrank Shuaibu, Atiku stated that Tinubu’s justifications for the electricity situation have failed to provide power to any Nigerian home. He expressed frustration over what he described as an abundance of excuses and propaganda from the Tinubu administration, emphasizing the struggles faced by millions of households and businesses that remain in darkness.
Atiku pointed out that, rather than addressing the issues within the power sector, the government has repeatedly offered excuses for its shortcomings, even as electricity tariffs continue to rise.
“Tinubu’s electricity excuses cannot light a single home. Nigerians need light, not excuses,” he remarked.
The former vice president noted that electricity consumers in Nigeria are categorized into different tariff bands—A, B, C, D, and E—with varying charges for each group. He mentioned that customers in Band A are billed approximately N209.50 per unit before adding VAT, while rates differ by state and electricity provider. He highlighted that regardless of the band, the common experience is a lack of reliable power supply juxtaposed with the arrival of electricity bills.
“No family should have to weigh the cost of electricity against the cost of food. No business should be left to pay more while receiving less,” Atiku asserted.
Additionally, he highlighted the government’s announcement regarding plans to eliminate electricity subsidies by 2027 and called for clarification on what this would mean for citizens’ bills once the subsidies are removed.
Atiku urged the Tinubu administration to cease political maneuvering regarding electricity and take genuine steps to ensure a stable power supply for Nigerians enduring these hardships.
