By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Federal Government has said plans are ongoing to increase electricity tariffs “over the next few months”.

It, however, said that the planned increase needed to be balanced by subsidies for less-affluent electricity users.

Bloomberg quoted the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, Olu Verheijen, as giving this hint at the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where Nigeria presented a $32 billion plan to expand electricity connections by 2030.

According to the presidential aide, Nigeria is trying to resolve the transition to a cost-efficient but cost-reflective tariff to attract private investors.

She said: “One of the key challenges we’re looking to resolve over the next few months is transitioning to a cost-efficient but cost-reflective tariff.

“So the sector generates revenue required to attract private capital, while also protecting the poor and vulnerable.”

Last year, the federal government approved a threefold increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification.

The fresh move to raise tariffs comes amid mounting pressure from Nigeria’s debt-burdened electricity distribution companies for tariffs to be cost-reflective so they can improve their finances.

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Temitope Ilori, has said plans are ongoing to support the domestic production of HIV commodities such as test kits and anti-retroviral drugs before the end of 2025.

Ilori disclosed this at the weekend in Ilorin, Kwara State, while inaugurating the Kwara Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission and Pediatrics ART Acceleration Committee.

The NACA DG explained that domestic production of HIV commodities was part of ways the government was creating an enabling environment for ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

She added that other ways include enrolling all individuals in the national health insurance program, mobilising resources to states and strengthening advocacy efforts and supporting vaccine research and innovation.

Ilori said the committee being set up was aimed at achieving an AIDS-Free Generation and ensuring a sustainable HIV response.

‘’UNAIDS 2023 reports indicate that approximately 140,000 children aged 0-14 are living with HIV, with 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occurring annually.

‘’Despite progress, PMTCT and pediatric HIV coverage remains below 33%, far from the 95% target.

‘’To address this, the Global Alliance Action Plan to End AIDS in Children was developed in 2021 with full financial support, yet coverage remains suboptimal,’’ she said.

The NACA DG noted that Kwara State’s HIV prevalence (0.8%) was below the national average of 1.4%, disparities persist.

‘’Women are disproportionately affected (1.3%) compared to men (0.4%), and some local governments require targeted interventions to maintain and further reduce prevalence rates.

‘’Achieving an AIDS-Free Generation is within reach, and no child should be born HIV-positive in Kwara State.

‘’I urge all partners to support us in developing a comprehensive line-list of children of HIV-positive clients, which is crucial to accelerating paediatric ART nationwide,’’ she added.

Ilori said that the Minister of State for Health has established a national acceleration committee, and the model was being replicated at the state level to eliminate mother-to-child transmission and enhance real-time program monitoring.

She however noted that there was a need for government-led sustainability efforts to address government’s continued reliance on donor support.

‘’Over the past few days, I have received numerous calls regarding the implications of the 90-day foreign aid suspension on our HIV program.

‘’While we are relieved that HIV services remain exempt, this situation underscores the need for government-led sustainability efforts.

Kwara State Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, however assured that the state government would ensure the committee achieves its mandate.