……. Agitates for Fair Billing Structure
By Fatima Saka
Residents of densely populated communities in Abuja have raised strong concerns over what they describe as excessive Band A electricity tariffs, calling for urgent government intervention and a more equitable billing structure that reflects economic realities across different residential areas.
Speaking with Distinct News Correspondent on Thursday, a resident, Mr. Chikelu Uduoma, who lives in Jikwoyi Phase 2 near the Catholic Church axis, said consumers in the area are being unfairly placed under the Band A classification despite inconsistent electricity supply and rising economic pressure.
He explained that electricity costs have become increasingly unbearable, noting that prepaid units now last significantly less time than before. According to him, ₦10,000 worth of electricity units no longer sustains households for a full week as it once did.
“They say we are on Band A, but the light is not constant as promised. Yet, they are charging us heavily. If you load ₦20,000, you may get just about 80 units, which cannot last even two weeks,” he said.
Uduoma alleged that residents were migrated into the Band A tariff category without prior consultation or adequate notification, describing the process as arbitrary and lacking transparency. He also claimed that complaints lodged with electricity officials did not yield any meaningful resolution.
“I went to their office to complain, and they said it is a must. Nobody consulted us before placing us on Band A. Now they say we cannot change it,” he added.
Beyond his personal concerns, several other residents in Jikwoyi and surrounding densely populated districts also expressed frustration over the rising electricity costs, insisting that the current tariff structure is unsustainable given the erratic power supply.
Some residents who spoke in similar terms described the situation as a “double burden,” where households pay higher tariffs but still experience frequent outages and unstable supply. They urged the government and regulatory authorities to urgently step in to review the billing system and ensure fairness across communities.
They also echoed concerns about perceived inequality in tariff application, arguing that residents in lower-income areas should not be subjected to the same rates as highbrow districts such as Maitama, where income levels and living conditions differ significantly.
According to them, the growing cost of electricity is already affecting household budgets, with many families forced to reduce consumption or seek alternative power sources to cope.
Uduoma warned that if the situation persists, more residents may resort to illegal connections as a survival measure, a development he said would worsen the power sector’s challenges.
He called on the Federal Government and relevant regulatory authorities to urgently review the Band A classification and ensure a fairer distribution system that reflects consumption realities and socio-economic differences across communities.
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“We are not saying we don’t want electricity, but let it be affordable. Move us to a band we can sustain, even if it means getting power a few times a week,” he appealed.
The concerns reflect a broader dissatisfaction among residents of densely populated Abuja communities, as debates continue over electricity tariff reforms, service delivery, and affordability in Nigeria’s power sector.
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