It is now all but certain that despite all the hollow promises of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Nigerians are condemned to pay more for darkness. Else, how can anyone explain the recent 300% astronomical hike in electricity tariffs, yet, within a period of 48 hours last week, the grid collapsed twice, plunging the entire nation into darkness. That marked the 11th time since January, that power generation in Nigeria dropped to zero! While the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) blamed the latest collapses on ongoing repair works, it is obvious that the issues plaguing the power value chain are systemic as the power crisis has now become a dark, crippling stain on the nation. The repeated national blackouts; so frequent that many can scarcely remember a time without them are an affront to the basic rights and aspirations of every Nigerian. This situation is not just an inconvenience. It is a national emergency, that undermines businesses, endangers lives, and shames the self-acclaimed giant of Africa on the global stage. The world is laughing, as Nigeria continues to stumble over a power crisis that is solvable. It is past time to turn on the lights and keep them on. Another blackout is one too many. Nigerians deserve nothing less than a future where electricity is constant, where business can thrive, and where opportunity is as bright as it ought to be. Anything less is unacceptable.
For too long, Nigerian leaders have allowed the sector to collapse into a chaotic mess, with empty promises and hollow reforms by generating companies (Gencos). At some point, grid collapses were attributed to birds vandalizing transmission infrastructure. But when the national grid collapsed for the eighth time last month, the TCN and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) blamed an exploded transformer at the Jebba Transmission substation, and repair works on critical transmission lines. Although the 300% tariff hike was supposed to guarantee at least 20 hours of power supply daily, the incessant collapse of the national grid has made the situation even worse. Last month, 17 northern states suffered total blackout for over three weeks. Bayelsa state has been in darkness for over three months. The current state of affairs is indeed unacceptable. President Tinubu must recognize that the right to reliable electricity is inseparable from the right to health, education, and economic prosperity. This is not merely an issue of comfort; it is a crisis of survival, that strikes at the core of the nation’s potential. The problem is not an abstract policy issue; it is a tangible daily hardship that affects every Nigerian family, every day.
Since the return to democracy in 1999, the government has invested between $31 billion to $36 billion in the power sector, according to various reports. Despite these massive investments, the nation still suffers from chronic power shortages, with frequent blackouts and an unstable grid that provides, on average, only a fraction of the electricity required to meet demand. This staggering investment has yielded little progress due to mismanagement, corruption, weak infrastructure, regulatory issues, and lack of accountability. Despite vast financial inputs, Nigeria’s electricity generation remains around 4,000-5,000 MW for a population of over 200 million people; South Africa with one-third of Nigeria’s population produces 44,000 Megawatts of electricity. The result is that Nigerians continue to depend on private power sources like generators, costing billions more in fuel and maintenance.
The lack of improvement has raised questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s power sector policies, the need for transparency in how funds are utilized, and a more robust approach to combating the corruption that has hindered progress for over two decades. In a nation with abundant natural resources, it is beyond belief that millions are forced to live without electricity. This constant power crisis has decimated the dreams of countless Nigerians, who cannot rely on stable electricity to study, work, or grow their businesses. Small businesses, the lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy, have become casualties of this energy disaster, spending a significant chunk of their budgets on costly generators and fuel just to keep their doors open. The manufacturing sector, which ought to be the engine of growth and employment, is stunted, and foreign investors are reluctant to enter an economy shackled by constant power failures. In short, the national blackout crisis is choking Nigeria’s potential.
For decades, Nigerians have been fed the same empty promises: more power plants, grid expansions, new reforms. Yet here we are, still in darkness. Where have the billions earmarked for power sector reforms gone? Why, despite countless policies and initiatives, has Nigeria’s electricity capacity remained abysmally low? The answer lies in years of negligence, mismanagement, and systemic corruption that continue to plague the sector. While the political elite enjoys a steady supply of electricity, the average Nigerian suffers, forced to endure endless blackouts that make basic daily life a struggle.
The time for superficial reforms has long passed. The government must take full responsibility for this mess, and half-hearted measures will no longer suffice. Nigeria needs a power sector overhaul that is transparent, comprehensive, and results-driven. It is time to expose and root out the corrupt practices that have bled this sector dry. President Tinubu must demonstrate, not with words but with results, that he is committed to delivering stable power to every Nigerian home and business. Regulatory authorities must take real action against the monopolistic power companies, enforcing standards and punishing failures, rather than enabling the status quo. Renewable energy investments should be at the forefront, taking advantage of Nigeria’s abundant sun and wind to build a diversified, sustainable power grid. The era of depending on decrepit, outdated power plants and private diesel generators must end. We need bold, forward-thinking solutions that will drive Nigeria into a future where power is constant, reliable, and affordable for all.
The consequences of Nigeria’s energy failure are painfully clear: unemployment, poverty, stunted growth, and a brain drain of the young and ambitious to nations where the lights stay on. And beyond these immediate impacts, there is the corrosive psychological effect of constant blackouts. To live in a state of perpetual powerlessness is to be made to feel unworthy of the dignity that reliable electricity affords. Nigerians are right to demand better, for they have been waiting far too long for even the basics. Last year, the World Bank rated Nigeria as the poorest country in the world for power supply to its people – a damning indictment of decades of mismanagement, neglect, and corruption. 85 million Nigerians, nearly half of the population have no electricity. For those who do have access, electricity is epileptic, barely flickering long enough to power basic needs before the darkness returns. This failure costs Nigeria a staggering $26 billion annually, crippling economic potential, killing businesses, and driving millions further into poverty.
Nigeria’s power crisis is not just a reflection of technical failure; it is a failure of governance, a betrayal of the people’s trust. Every blackout is a reminder of promises broken and opportunities lost. It is a symbol of how far Nigeria has fallen short of its potential, and it is time for this to end. President Tinubu must understand that the right to reliable electricity is a fundamental need, not a luxury. Without power, there can be no progress, no growth, no future. Nigeria has the resources to power itself; it lacks only the will and the honesty to make it happen. One blackout is too many; hundreds of blackouts are intolerable. The Nigerian people have endured enough. It is time to turn on the lights, once and for all.
