Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara residents call for reduction in soaring electricity, telecom tariffs

Residents of Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states have expressed deep concern over the current hikes in electrical energy and telecommunication tariffs, urging the federal government, service suppliers, and related authorities to urgently overview and cut back the charges.

The shoppers expressed disappointment over persistent poor service supply regardless of the elevated prices, based on the Information Company of Nigeria.

A civil servant in Sokoto, Malam Isma’ila Umar, described the tariff hike as a supply of punishment, including that middle-income earners can now not afford primary wants because of rising bills.

He confused that electrical energy and telecommunication companies are important, making the extra prices an insufferable burden. Umar urged the federal government to take quick steps to alleviate the hardship confronted by residents.

A group activist, Mr. Sanusi Sarki, lamented the sharp rise in information prices, revealing his month-to-month information bills elevated from N6,000 month-to-month to N28,000 regardless of unreliable service.

Journalist Suleiman Nasir decried the poor community high quality amid rising telecom tariffs stating his standard N3,000 plan now prices N9,000, but stays unreliable.

He cited areas within the Sokoto metropolis, together with Dambua, Offa Highway, and Previous Airport Highway, the place residents barely obtain 12 hours of electrical energy day by day. Many, he mentioned, have resorted to utilizing turbines to satisfy their energy wants. Nasir known as on NCC, NERC, and KEDCO to reverse the tariff hikes, present pay as you go meters, and guarantee truthful billing.

Extra perception

The Commissioner for Vitality and Petroleum Assets, Alhaji Sanusi Ibrahim, urged KEDCO to enhance the facility provide, stating that residents shouldn’t be made to pay for darkness.

• He suggested NERC and KEDCO to have interaction stakeholders earlier than implementing any tariff enhance and give attention to higher service supply to spice up income.

In Gusau, Zamfara state, information and airtime vendor Sufuyanu Dahiru known as for pressing motion to reverse the tariff hikes and improve service high quality, noting that the present price doesn’t mirror the poor companies rendered.

• In Birnin Kebbi, Garba Dalhatu, a Mass Communication pupil at Umaru Waziri Federal Polytechnic, described the rising price of dwelling as overwhelming, particularly for college students. He mentioned many are struggling to pay tuition, purchase meals, and canopy electrical energy and information bills.
• Ibrahim Ahmad, a businessman in Argungu, famous that prime information prices and poor telecom companies are undermining the federal government’s cashless coverage and hurting companies.

He added that epileptic energy provide, mixed with excessive electrical energy tariffs and gasoline costs, has pressured many rice millers out of enterprise, worsening financial situations within the area.