The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed deep dissatisfaction and outrage over the repeated collapses of Nigeria’s national electricity grid under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a scathing reaction to the latest collapse on October 14, 2024, HURIWA called for the immediate removal of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, whom it described as “grossly incompetent” and unfit for the role.
The grid collapse, the seventh since 2024, left millions of Nigerians in darkness, further crippling an already fragile economy.
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company confirmed the collapse, highlighting the disruption of power supply across several states.
Despite repeated assurances from the Ministry of Power and other government agencies, HURIWA contended that these collapses have become the norm under the current administration, exacerbating the nation’s economic and social woes.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated that the Ministry of Power has been a revolving door for politicians who consistently fail to deliver results, and Adelabu’s tenure is no different.
“Nigeria has had the misfortune of some of the worst species of politicians posted to the Ministry of Power in the last two decades,” he said. “Most of them reportedly leave office with one anti-graft case or another, and they consistently fail to provide Nigerians with the electricity needed for industrial and economic growth.”
Since assuming office in May 2023, President Tinubu’s administration has been plagued with recurring power grid failures, with each collapse bringing the nation to its knees.
HURIWA’s statement detailed how the grid has become a fragile pack of cards, crumbling at the slightest challenge.
The advocacy group criticized the President for appointing a politician with no expertise in power management to such a strategic role, stating that electricity is the backbone of Nigeria’s economic advancement, small and medium-scale enterprises, and infrastructure development.
“We do not understand why President Tinubu considers it useful to have someone who brings nothing to the table as the Minister of Power,” Onwubiko stated.
“Electricity powers economic advancement. It drives small and medium-scale enterprises and is the engine of the nation in terms of infrastructure and capacity building. Appointing a round peg in a square hole for such a critical ministry is the greatest disservice this government has done to Nigeria.”
HURIWA pointed out that the government’s excuses for the grid collapses have consistently failed to align with the realities on the ground.
“For every failure, explanations of “system disturbance” or infrastructure challenges are trotted out, but there has been no clear action plan to prevent further collapses.
The October 14 collapse, which officials attributed to a disturbance at one of the transmission stations, yet power remained unavailable across large swathes of the country for hours, with no clear timeline for resolution.
“Historically, Nigeria’s power grid failures have been a recurring nightmare, with the grid collapsing multiple times each year. Under President Tinubu’s administration, the trend has worsened.
In 2024 alone, the grid has collapsed seven times, worsening an already dire economic situation. Under the current government’s tenure, Nigerians have seen increased power outages, higher electricity tariffs, and little to no improvement in supply,” the organization highlighted.
HURIWA expressed frustration over the continued power outages, linking the grid collapses to the growing unemployment rate, deindustrialization, and the exit of foreign businesses from Nigeria.
“Nigeria is not industrializing, and foreign business entities are packing up and leaving the country due to these power failures.
“The situation is dire, with more Nigerians falling into poverty because economic opportunities are being eroded by the lack of electricity.
“Over 60 percent of Nigerians suffer from electricity poverty—either they don’t have electricity at all, or the supply they receive is irregular and insufficient to power their economic activities,” Onwubiko explained.
The advocacy group also highlighted how the inflated electricity tariffs have worsened the situation for many Nigerians, as unmetered customers are forced to pay for periods of blackout, while those with metered connections are overcharged for insufficient supply. HURIWA lamented that the financial burden on small businesses, which must turn to expensive, polluting generators to remain operational during outages, has increased the cost of doing business, with many passing these costs onto consumers.
HURIWA further stressed the importance of competent leadership in the power sector, advocating for the appointment of experts and technocrats who can deliver tangible results rather than politicians using the ministry as a stepping stone to further their careers.
The group stated that the electricity grid’s persistent collapse is one of the biggest impediments to Nigeria’s economic growth, and unless addressed urgently, the country’s developmental potential will remain unrealized.
The rights group also called on the Nigerian government to take swift action by appointing the right people to the right roles, as continued grid collapses threaten Nigeria’s national development. “We need experts, not politicians,” HURIWA stated.
“The President must put in place those with the technical know-how to overhaul the power sector and ensure that electricity is no longer a stumbling block to Nigeria’s progress.”
HURIWA concluded its statement by warning the government that Nigerians are running out of patience, as the continuous failure of the power grid reflects a larger governance failure that could have devastating long-term consequences for the country.
“How long more will Nigerians have to endure this? How long before President Tinubu does the right thing and appoints competent professionals to fix the power sector once and for all?” HURIWA questioned.
In conclusion, the rights group reiterated that unless urgent reforms are implemented, the grid will continue to collapse, dragging the Nigerian economy and its citizens further into the dark
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko
National Coordinator,
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)
October 15, 2024
