The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State has asked Nigerians to put the partisan politics of 2023 behind and unite to make the country a better place in 2024.

The Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, made this remark in his New Year Message on Sunday in Lagos.

“2023 has gone into history and we give gratitude to God for making us witness the beginning of Year 2024 in good health of mind and body. May He lead us through this New Year with His divine favour and grace.

“My dear Lagosians, let’s agree to make this year a better one than 2023. Let’s put partisan politics that dotted 2023 behind us and forge ahead to continue to make our state the Centre of Excellence and by extension, make Nigeria an excellent nation.

“We must be seen to be engaging in productive activities and actions that will reflect the phrase above,” he said.

While thanking God for the peaceful conduct of the general elections, the APC chairman lauded Nigerians for supporting and electing President Bola Tinubu.

He said: “Indeed, it is a great joy for me to be the chairman that produced the first truly progressive president for the country.”

According to him, 2023 also gives Nigerians the opportunity to elect other candidates to contribute to the rescuing of the country.

“Through your votes at the 2023 elections, you gave testimonies and practically demonstrated your love, belief and support for our progressive ideology.

“You gave our party the nod to spread the magic with which we have made Lagos State a true Centre of Excellence to the entire nation,” he said.

Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies, DisCos are reportedly planning to hike electricity tariff nationwide with effect from January 1, 2024.

A source in one of the DisCos confirmed the development under anonymity.

However, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Abuja Electricity Company are yet to respond to DAILY POST enquiry on the planned electricity tariff hike as of Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with DAILY POST, Kunle Olubiyo, the President of the Nigerian Consumer Protection Network, said any planned electricity tariff hike will be outright irresponsible on the part of the Government.

According to him, Nigerians are still grappling with the effects of fuel subsidy removal, rising inflation and other economic reforms by Tinubu’s administration.

“Increasing electricity at this time, coupled with the impact of fuel subsidy removal, inflation, and other hardships facing Nigerians, will be insensitive on the part of the government.

“It is outright irresponsible for the government to allow an electricity tariff hike,” he said.

Recall that in November 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stopped the implementation of electricity tariff, insisting on a power sector subsidy.

Speaking on Tinubu’s directive on electricity tariff hike, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said Adelabu said, “The power sector is an industry that is very sensitive to any leader.

“You cannot jump overnight and implement the cost-reflective tariff. I can tell you that till today, the government still subsidises power”.

NERC’s quarterly reports indicated that electricity subsidies gulped N204.59 billion in the third quarter of 2023 and N135.23 billion in Q2, which is substantially higher than the N36.02 billion in Q1 2023.