The Nigerian government has announced plans to spend a staggering N8 billion in 2025 on a nationwide campaign aimed at educating Nigerians about the importance of paying their electricity bills promptly. The proposal, which was revealed during a budget defence session by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has sparked widespread debate, with some citizens applauding the initiative and others questioning its efficacy in a country riddled with power sector challenges.
Speaking before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Power on January 13, 2025, Adelabu emphasized that many Nigerians still fail to grasp the significance of paying for electricity and the role it plays in sustaining national infrastructure. He attributed the ongoing issues of electricity theft and non-payment of bills to a lack of awareness among the general populace.
“We are a country of over 200 million people. To address the issues surrounding electricity payments, we need to use every available platform—social media, print, and digital channels—to reach Nigerians and change their attitudes toward paying bills,” Adelabu said. “This N8 billion will be spent on advocacy and re-orienting the public to understand that our power assets are national treasures, and as such, we all need to contribute towards protecting and maintaining them.”
The Minister outlined the primary goals of the campaign, which include increasing awareness about the consequences of power theft, promoting regular bill payments, and fostering a sense of collective responsibility towards national assets like electricity. “Our people need to know that they should not turn a blind eye to power theft. If they see something, they must say something. They also need to realize the importance of paying their bills regularly, as this is what sustains the sector,” he stressed.
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions across Nigeria. Some citizens have expressed support for the initiative, arguing that it could lead to a long-overdue change in the power sector’s operations. However, a significant portion of the public has voiced skepticism, questioning the wisdom of spending such a hefty sum on public education rather than focusing on more immediate issues like power generation and metering.
A Call for Action on Prepaid Meters
One common argument among critics is that the N8 billion could be better spent on increasing the availability of prepaid meters, which would eliminate the need for such awareness campaigns in the first place. Many Nigerians feel that the lack of reliable metering is one of the primary reasons for the widespread reluctance to pay electricity bills.
“Why not use that N8 billion to install prepaid meters for all customers? Once people are metered, there will be no ambiguity about how much they owe. Then, the focus can shift to ensuring that service providers deliver power consistently,” said Chika, a Lagos-based energy consultant. “If you want to stop corruption and inefficiency in the sector, start with transparent billing systems, not more public campaigns.”
The issue of prepaid meters has been a long-standing problem in Nigeria. Despite promises from the government and power distribution companies (DISCOs) to increase the rollout of meters, millions of Nigerians are still left with estimated billing, which is often inflated and inaccurate. This has led to widespread frustration and a sense of injustice among electricity consumers.
In response to these concerns, the Minister of Power acknowledged that prepaid meters are an essential part of the solution. However, he emphasized that the N8 billion campaign was intended to address the deeper issue of changing societal attitudes. “It’s not just about metering; it’s about educating people to understand the value of paying for what they consume. Once that mindset is changed, the sector will become more sustainable,” Adelabu argued.
Public Outrage and Skepticism
Not everyone is convinced by the Minister’s reasoning. Social media platforms have been flooded with critiques of the plan, with many Nigerians questioning the allocation of such a large sum for an educational campaign. Some have compared it to previous government initiatives that were poorly executed or failed to achieve their goals.
“Is this the best way to spend N8 billion? What about the billions already spent on failed power sector reforms? Why not invest in improving power generation or ensuring that DISCOs deliver consistent service?” asked Emeka, a frustrated consumer from Port Harcourt.
Others have criticized the government for not addressing the core issues in the power sector, such as the perennial power outages, poor infrastructure, and corruption within the electricity distribution companies. Many Nigerians believe that no amount of awareness will make a significant impact as long as the root causes of the power sector’s inefficiencies remain unresolved.
“I can’t believe this is what they think will fix the problem,” said Adeola, a resident of Abuja. “People will still avoid paying bills, and nothing will change unless they fix the meters and stop the endless power cuts.”
The Need for a More Comprehensive Approach
Several experts have weighed in on the debate, urging the government to adopt a more holistic approach to reforming the power sector. According to Dr. Tunde Olayemi, an energy policy analyst, while public education is crucial, it cannot be the sole focus of reform efforts. “What we need is a combination of public education, proper metering, improved power supply, and stronger enforcement mechanisms,” he said in an interview with this newspaper.
Olayemi further suggested that the government should also focus on empowering the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to enforce stricter penalties for power theft and non-payment. “Education alone will not solve the problem if people see no immediate consequences for their actions. A clear regulatory framework with teeth is necessary to create lasting change.”
