BUSINESS DAY
Millions of Nigerians are once again grappling with the reality of power outages, with many areas experiencing unreliable electricity supply or complete darkness for days on end.
While the authorities offer a string of explanations, ranging from pipeline vandalism to gas shortages, citizens are left grappling with the harsh reality of unreliable electricity – a chronic issue that continues to stifle progress and erode trust.
“It’s the same story every week,” said Adeola Adewumi, a shopkeeper in Lagos struggling to keep her food cold without refrigeration. “They say there’s a fault on the line, or there’s not enough gas, but nothing changes. We’re left in the dark, literally and figuratively.”
The latest blackout comes amidst a backdrop of rising anger and disillusionment. Promises of improved power supply, a key campaign pledge of the current administration, seem increasingly hollow.
The explanations from the regulators vary, often citing issues such as gas pipeline vandalism, inadequate infrastructure, and grid failures.
“Our commitment is unwavering in addressing the challenges affecting power supply. We understand the impact on citizens, and our goal is to swiftly resolve the issues of gas supply, indebtedness, and overall sector stability,” Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power said in a meeting with sector stakeholders at the weekend.
He added: “To tackle the gas supply and liquidity challenges, I’ve decided to form a committee involving all stakeholders. Together, we will work on recommendations to resolve these issues and ensure a more reliable and consistent power supply for our citizens”.
However, many Nigerians remain skeptical, believing that a lack of proper planning and investment, coupled with the absence of strong board oversight the management of the Transmission Commission of Nigeria (TCN), are the root causes of the problem.
“We are tired of hearing the same excuses year after year,” said Aisha Mohammed, an energy analyst at the Lagos-based Center for Development Studies. “The government keeps promising to fix the problem, but nothing changes. We are left in the dark, both literally and figuratively despite the privatisation exercise.”
