Nigeria

“With Subsidy, No Light”: Shehu Sani Questions Tinubu’s Decision To Remove Electricity Subsidy

Updated Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 9:33 PM by Esther Odili

Mixed reactions have continued to trail President Tinubu's planned removal of electricity subsidy
Senator Shehu Sani has wondered what Nigerians will contend with because, with subsidy intact, there is no stable electricity
The former lawmaker queried the federal government's move as Nigerians presented other possible options if the government decided to do its bidding

PAY ATTENTION: The 2024 Business Leaders Awards Present Entrepreneurs that Change Nigeria for the Better. Check out their Stories!

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Former Kaduna Senator Shehu Sani has expressed concern as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government announced plans to remove electricity subsidies for effective utilisation of energy in the country.

Shehu Sani, FG, Tinubu, Electricity subsidy — What Will Happen?: Shehu Sani Reacts As Tinubu’s Govt Announces Plan To Remove Electricity. Photo credit: Shehu Sani (Senator Shehu Sani), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Source: Facebook

The former lawmaker wondered what would become of the citizenry following the government's announcement, as he noted that "with electricity subsidy, there is no light."

Sani made this assertion in a post shared on his X page on Friday, February 16, 2024, and Nigerians have reacted differently.

Read also

Economic hardship: PDP governors ask Tinubu's govt, APC to resign

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed!

Recall that the federal government on Wednesday, February 14, declared that it was now “very difficult to sustain subsidy on electricity”.

The minister of power, Adebayo Adelabu, told journalists in Abuja that the country’s power debt had risen and Nigeria must begin to move towards a cost-effective tariff model, The Punch reported.

This comes at a time when Nigerians across the country have been experiencing blackouts following the collapse of the power grid in 2023, compounded by the high cost of premium motor spirit, popularly known as fuel.

Amid the current economic challenges bedevilling Nigeria, the former lawmaker and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tweeted:

"With electricity subsidy, there is no light…what will happen when the subsidy is removed?

Nigerians react

@Awoken9ijaYouth tweeted:

"We will have to go back to your radios oh."

@AGINAS tweeted:

"Subsiding electricity won't make any difference."

@JVeebrand tweeted:

"Nigerians will pray for Light from Heaven according Adeboye."

@obajemujnr tweeted:

"The question is: who and where have we really benefited from fuel subsidy removal?

"If we see any traceable evidence or benefits from fuel subsidy removal, the electricity subsidy is another sc@m. Try and Error governance."

@Northernman00 tweeted:

"There will be more light, trust the process Shehu Sani! Stop looking at negative side of the story, always be optimistic please."

NERC speaks on new electricity subsidy

In an earlier report by Legit.ng, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), said wealthy Nigerians make up the highest consumers of electricity subsidies in Nigeria.

NERC revealed this in its 2022 Market Competition Report released on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.