Nigerian Customers Criticize Power Minister’s Claims on Improved Electricity Supply

Customers have reacted negatively to claims made by Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, regarding improvements in the country’s electricity supply. On Sunday, the minister asserted that 40% of Nigerian energy users now receive 20 hours of continuous power daily, attributing the increase to government initiatives.

In his statement, Adelabu noted that Nigeria is currently generating 5,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity. He stated, "The major achievement is the fact that today we generate over 5,500 megawatts of power, we transmit and distribute it, and over 40 percent of customers today enjoy over 20 hours of regular power supply across the nation. You can see that there is a significant improvement between when we came in and now, which we intend to improve further."

The minister also credited the improved supply to the installation of new transformers and mobile substations, emphasizing that the current electricity supply is not coincidental but a result of these efforts.

However, Adelabu’s claims have been met with skepticism from many Nigerians who continue to suffer from inconsistent power supply.

Pricewill Okorie, Executive Director of the Electricity Consumer Protection Advocacy Centre, dismissed Adelabu’s statement as unrealistic. In his response, Okorie said, "Where are the reports from the 36 states? You have 774 Local Governments in Nigeria. If you take 40 percent of the population of citizens in these Local Governments, you’ll know what the data is."

The discontent over Adelabu’s remarks comes amid Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to meet its electricity demands. Despite decades of privatisation efforts, the country, with a population of over 250 million, continues to struggle to produce 5,000 MW of power.

Adding to the frustration of consumers, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved a 240 percent increase in electricity tariffs for Band A customers in April 2024. This category of consumers reportedly receives 20 to 22 hours of power supply daily.

The tariff hike has worsened the financial burden on Nigerians, who are already grappling with high energy costs, including soaring prices for premium motor spirit (petrol) and automotive petrol oil (diesel).