Nigeria's electricity regulator on Wednesday approved an increase in electricity tariffs for wealthier consumers in Africa's most populous nation, it said in a statement.

The vice chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Musiliu Oseni, said the increase took effect immediately.

"The commission has approved a rate review of 225 naira per killowatt hour from a maximum of 68 naira per kilowatt hour ... for just under 15% of the customer population in the Nigerian electricity supply industry," Oseni said.

(Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha Editing by Mark Potter)