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Nigeria to cut electrical power aid to relieve pressure on public financial resources

Nigeria plans to axe an electrical energy subsidy for 15% of consumers to minimize its 3.3 trillion naira ($ 2.6 billion) expense, part of a series of reforms to alleviate pressure on public finances, governmental spokesperson Bayo Onanuga stated on Tuesday.

Onanuga said the government was under pressure to enable a. price boost in the electricity sector as it only budgeted 450. billion naira for the aid this year.

When the tariff boost would come into, he did not say. effect, but said that when it did the government anticipated to. save near to 1.1 trillion naira annually.

Nigeria last examined electrical power tariffs in 2020, Onanuga. stated, including the proposed increase would help businesses recuperate. costs and improve investment.

With the substantial subsidy problem and high expense of gas ... the. current electricity tariff is not realistic, he said.

President Bola Tinubu started Nigeria's boldest reforms. in years last year after he ditched a expensive however popular fuel. aid and enabled the currency to devalue greatly.

The reforms Tinubu hopes will restore growth in Africa's. biggest economy have stoked inflation to more than 30% and. worsened an expense of living crisis, angering workers.

Onanuga said only 15% of consumers, accounting for 40% of. electricity intake, would be impacted.

Nigeria's power sector faces a myriad of issues consisting of. a stopping working grid, gas scarcities, high financial obligation and vandalism. The. country has 12,500 megawatts of set up capability however produces. only about a quarter of that, leaving lots of reliant on costly. diesel-powered generators.

Likewise, state-controlled power tariffs are too low to permit. distribution companies to recoup expenses and pay creating. business - leaving the sector with ballooning financial obligations.

Onanuga stated the federal government would think about assisting. generating business to offset around 1.5 trillion naira of debt. owed to the country's bulk electrical energy buyer.

(source: Reuters)