A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has called on the Federal Government to abandon any plans for further increases in electricity tariffs, urging authorities to allow Nigerians to breathe amid ongoing economic challenges.

Igbokwe's appeal comes approximately two weeks after the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, advised Nigerians to prepare for another hike in electricity tariffs. The minister had stated that the new tariffs would reflect the true costs of electricity generation and distribution, arguing that the country's economy could no longer sustain electricity subsidies.

In a post shared on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, Igbokwe expressed strong opposition to the proposed increase, stating: "Do not add even half a penny on electricity tariff right now in Nigeria. We are yet to come to terms with Band A and B and you are talking about increasing the tariff again. Let us breathe now."

The APC chieftain's comments reflect growing concerns among Nigerians about the impact of rising utility costs on household budgets and businesses already struggling with inflation and other economic pressures.

This development follows recent categorization of electricity consumers into Bands A and B, which has already resulted in increased tariffs for many Nigerians. The potential for further increases has sparked debate about the government's approach to energy sector reforms and their timing amid current economic realities.

The Minister of Power has yet to respond to Igbokwe's comments or provide further details on the timeline for the proposed tariff adjustments.