Columnist criticises Tinubu administration over electricity supply record

Azu Ishiekwene has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over Nigeria’s electricity supply, arguing that the government has not fulfilled its promise of reliable power. In a commentary published by Premium Times, Ishiekwene also criticised the appointment and performance of successive ministers of power, naming Adebayo Adelabu and Joseph Tegbe. His assessment is presented as opinion rather than an official evaluation of the power sector.

Ishiekwene recalled Tinubu’s 2022 pledge that he should not receive a second term if he failed to fix electricity supply and end estimated billing during his first term. The columnist said that promise had not been met and argued that the administration had not provided an adequate explanation. He referred to continued outages and grid collapses, as well as the government’s budget for a dedicated solar power system at the Presidential Villa.

He contrasted that investment with what he described as the experience of Nigerians and businesses relying on generators, inverters and other alternative sources. The article questions comments attributed to Tegbe about Nigerians asking the government to slow down because their freezers were becoming excessively cold. Ishiekwene presents the claim as inconsistent with the reported experience of consumers facing unreliable electricity and businesses operating below capacity.

The columnist also cites industrial areas in Kano, Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos and Enugu as examples of places where poor power supply has affected factories. The source material does not provide independent figures for closures or reduced output in those locations. Ishiekwene argues that the government should accelerate improvements rather than reduce its pace.

He also raises the environmental cost of widespread petrol and diesel generator use, while criticising what he sees as a gap between official statements and the daily experience of households and businesses.