From N500k To N4m: How My Electricity Bill Exploded After Subsidy Removal — Amaechi Vows Atiku Will Restore Subsidy, Scrap Band A

Former Rivers State governor and Vice-Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has said the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, will restore electricity subsidy if elected in 2027.

Amaechi made the declaration on Thursday during ward visits across Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he delivered Atiku’s campaign message to residents.

He criticised the electricity tariff regime introduced by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, alleging that the removal of electricity subsidy had drastically increased electricity bills.

Using his personal bill to illustrate the impact, Amaechi said his monthly bill increased from N500,000 to N4 million.

“My house electricity bill was N500,000; now I pay N4 million. Atiku said if he comes, I will go back to N500,000. No more Band A and B because government will subsidise it,” he said.

Amaechi also accused the Tinubu administration of worsening economic hardship through removal of petrol subsidy.

“He (Tinubu) just held microphone and didn’t care. He just said remove subsidy. Since he removed subsidy, transportation increased, food prices increased — tomatoes, corn, everything,” he said.

He linked rising insecurity to economic difficulties, saying farmers could no longer access their farms, affecting food production.

“Insecurity also increased. You no even fit go farm, and government doesn’t care. Atiku said he will bring back subsidy. If Atiku brings back subsidy, everything will come down,” he said.

Nigeria’s electricity tariff structure is divided into service bands based on hours of supply, with Band A customers expected to receive a minimum of 20 hours daily and paying higher rates.

The Federal Government has indicated plans to gradually phase out electricity subsidy from 2027. Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said on July 31 that subsidy would be phased out from 2027, while government said it spent N3.14 trillion on electricity subsidies between June 2023 and December 2025.