The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed anger and dissatisfaction over the recurring collapse of Nigeria’s national electricity grid under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The latest collapse on October 14 and 15, 2024, has left millions of Nigerians in darkness, crippling the already fragile economy.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, via a press release on Tuesday, condemned the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, as “grossly incompetent” and unfit for the role. “Nigeria has had the misfortune of some of the worst species of politicians posted to the Ministry of Power in the last two decades,” Onwubiko stated.
“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 President Tinubu took office in May 2023, the power grid has collapsed eight times, with each incident bringing the nation to its knees. HURIWA criticized the President for appointing a politician without expertise in power management to this critical role.
“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,” Onwubiko emphasized.
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company confirmed the collapse, highlighting the disruption of power supply across several states. Despite assurances from the Ministry of Power, HURIWA argued that these collapses have become the norm under the current administration, exacerbating economic and social woes.
