By Adeyemi Adeyinka Ademowo
In the beginning, the biblical account tells us, light was the first act of order in the midst of chaos: “Let there be light.” In present-day Nigeria, however, the refrain appears to have been reversed. Since the appointment of the current Minister of Power, the experience of many Nigerians suggests a different proclamation altogether: let there be darkness! Power supply, which was already unstable, seems to have descended into a level of uncertainty that many citizens struggle to recall in recent years.
To be sure, Nigeria has not had a perfect electricity system in recent times, but there was a time when the situation was at least better, more stable and predictable. A time, when “Up NEPA!” often rent the air within minutes after it went off. There was also a time when the country’s electricity infrastructure was strong enough to support regional supply arrangements. Historical records show that Nigeria once supplied electricity to parts of neighbouring countries, including Benin Republic, Niger, and at certain periods supported West African Power Pool arrangements that benefited countries such as Ghana and Togo through regional grid cooperation. That history makes the present situation even more troubling. A country that once powered parts of its sub-region now struggles to keep its own national grid from repeated collapse.
The frequent breakdown of the national grid has become almost routine. Nigerians have lost count of how many times the grid has gone down in the past year alone. Each collapse is followed by the usual ministerial rhetorics (sometimes hurriedly scribbled explanations): technical faults, low generation, transmission constraints, gas supply problems or system instability. Yet what is often missing is clear public communication that inspires confidence that those in charge fully understand the depth of the crisis or possess the technical and administrative capacity to resolve it. In fact, there was a time a ministerial gaffe (suggesting that Nigerians should be mindful of electricity usage, including statements interpreted as blaming consumers for system pressure) fed social media skit makers with generous algorithms.
One of the promises made when the current minister assumed office was the provision of free electricity meters to Nigerians in order to reduce estimated billing and restore trust in the system. Months later, it is difficult to find citizens who can confidently say they received any such meter without cost. Instead, many consumers still face the familiar reality of estimated billing, erratic supply, and rising tariffs for electricity that is hardly available.Government has also spoken about reforms, including new policies encouraging independent and private power generation by states and investors. In principle, these are welcome developments. However, public education on these reforms has been minimal, and the average Nigerian remains unsure of what has changed, what is changing, and when relief can realistically be expected. Policy without communication creates suspicion, and suspicion erodes legitimacy.
It is often argued that a minister does not necessarily need to be a specialist in the field he supervises. There is some truth in that claim. Leadership requires coordination, not only technical knowledge. Yet experience has shown that in critical sectors such as power, works, defence, or finance, expertise matters. When the challenges are highly technical, the margin for trial-and-error becomes dangerously small. The difference between policy success and failure may lie in whether the person in charge understands the system beyond briefing notes. The present Minister of Power may be hardworking, and no one doubts that the electricity crisis did not begin with him. But leadership must also be judged by outcomes. When darkness becomes more frequent, when promises remain unfulfilled, and when public confidence continues to decline, questions naturally arise. If the responsibility of office cannot be matched with the demands of performance, then honour sometimes requires stepping aside (instead of continuing to preside over a sector that desperately needs focused and technically grounded leadership).
Nigeria does not lack ideas. Nigeria does not lack plans. What it often lacks is the alignment between responsibility and capacity. And when a square peg is placed in a round hole, the result is friction. In the power sector today, that friction is felt not in theory, but in darkness.
This darkness does not fit. Ilẹ̀ tí ìmọ́lẹ̀ ti mọ́ rí, kò yẹ kí ó di ilé òkùnkùn. This is becoming a peculiar mess (if you like, penkelemeesi)
Can there be light, please?
Ire o!
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