By Francis Akinnodi,Saheed Ibrahim & Jimoh Ahmed

As Nigerians begin to brace up for more tough over increase in prices of electricity prepaid metres effective from today, Ondo State residents have described the increase as insensitive and callous.
An opinion poll conducted by The Hope revealed that the increase as a killer noose on the necks of already hard pressed people due to the economic hardship in the country.
Those interviewed expressed shock that the increase was coming at a time when most homes are yet to get the free metres promised by the Federal Government.
According to them, reviewing the prices of electricity metres upward rather than downward will certainly unsettle many people and choke Nigerians who are still in shock over cut throat prices of cooking gas, food stuffs, essential commodities and health needs.
A community and women leader, Information Village, Akure, Mrs Olufunmilayo Ige said the increase in the prices was a grave act of insensitive to people’s plights in the country.
“Some months ago, we heard that BEDC would bring metres and distribute. We heard some people got in our neighbouring community.”The BEDC official asked us to write names but till today, we have seen nothing.
“This is not the time to make life unbearable for people. We are passing through a lot just to feed but government is not doing anything but increasing prices of things,”she lamented.
Also speaking, a community leader in Obaile, Akure North Local Government Area, Mr Ahmed Sanusi also criticised the increase.
He said, “It is like the Federal Government is confused. We heard free metres will be distributed. In fact, one BEDC official got our names.
“It was later I heard the woman in charge said the distribution should be stopped and taken to another place. Till today, we got nothing but we have continued to pay huge bills.
“Do not think this is the next step to go. If the metres are unaffordable, how do we all have? We have many issues to battle with. But it seems life keeps getting harder in the country and the FG is adding to our pains.”
In Akoko, another community leader and a school principal, Elder Ayo Adeboboye described the increment as unfortunate.
“It is quite unfortunate that we are here we are. We hardly have four hours power supply but the tariff keeps increasing every year. Now, they have increased prices for electricity metres.
“We know the importance of power to the development of the country but seems the government is out to frustrate the ordinary citizens.
“Now there will be desperation for the free metres promised to be distributed and create avenue for those who can bribe ‘NEPA’ officials to get them”, he stated.
Others residents of the state, who spoke with The Hope shared the same feelings and condemn in totality the increment.
They called on President Mubammadu Buhari to always consider the pains and plight of Nigerians who are facing more challenges before taking harsh decisions that will exacerbate their plights.
Mr Igbekele Aribo from Ikare Akoko said with the new meter price hike, the hope of many Nigerians in getting metered is dashed.
“When the single phase meter was N48, 000, many consumers were not able to afford it, not to talk of when it is now fixed at over N89,000. The fee of the three phase which rose from N89,000 to N109, 000 may be an uphill task for those who are aspiring to get that.
He stated that the most worrisome of the development is that even when it was not increased, the people have been paying for what they are not using.
On his own, Mr Samuel Ayodele, another electricity consumer said it seems the federal government is happy in adding to the yoke of the masses.
Samuel described the hike in electricity meters as nothing, but an act of wickedness on the part of the federal government even at a time when the economic crunch is biting hard on the people.
He stated that even with the epilepsy status of electricity in the country, one would have thought that government should have concentrated on how to give Nigerians stable electricity than waking up one day to jerk up prices of prepaid metres
A farmer, Alhaji Kareem Olowosaudi said it is a sign of cluelessness on the part of those steering the ship of the country.
Olowosaudi said jerking up to the price of electricity meters at this time when price of cooking gas is already taking its toll on the people has brought to limelight that those ruling us has no idea of what the masses are passing through.
An Abuja based economist, Bala Ibrahim said, “The increase in the cost of the prepaid meters would discourage consumers from applying for meters in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive for mass metering to end estimated billing by the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos).
“Considering the fact that economic activities are gradually picking up, this is not the right time for any increase. Nigerians are already battling with the high cost of food and other days to day expenses.”
An official of the Electricity Distribution Company, Ceaser Eke, who confirmed the proposed increase, said the increase might further affect the response of customers to the prepaid meter program of the federal government.