Electricity crisis: HURIWA slams power minister over alleged failures, calls for overhaul

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly criticized the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, over what it described as incompetence, failed leadership, and unnecessary foreign trips while the country grapples with a worsening electricity crisis.

In a statement signed by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Monday, HURIWA expressed disappointment that despite President Bola Tinubu’s campaign promise to improve electricity supply, the situation has continued to deteriorate.

The rights group highlighted the frequent collapse of the national grid, erratic power supply, and increasing electricity tariffs that have negatively impacted businesses and the economy.

“Reports indicate that Nigeria’s national grid experienced at least 12 collapses in 2024, with another recorded in March 2025. These failures have led to widespread power outages across the country, with little explanation from the Ministry of Power beyond references to gas shortages, vandalism, or system disturbances. The recurring collapses have exacerbated economic hardships, leaving millions of citizens and businesses struggling to cope with unreliable power supply,” HURIWA frowned.

Citing data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), HURIWA noted that the national grid has collapsed at least 141 times in the past decade, with 46 recorded between 2017 and 2024. In 2023 alone, the grid failed more than 10 times, plunging millions of Nigerians into darkness. The group recalled that in September 2023, the national grid collapsed twice in one week, while another failure in February 2024 left major cities such as Lagos and Abuja without electricity for days.

HURIWA criticized power sector officials for treating these failures as routine occurrences instead of taking decisive corrective measures. It compared Nigeria’s situation to developed nations, where even a single power failure prompts swift government intervention.

The group referenced the United Kingdom’s 2019 power outage, which led to an immediate response, contrasting it with Nigeria’s lack of urgency in addressing persistent blackouts. According to the group, while developed countries invest heavily in maintaining and upgrading their power infrastructure, Nigeria continues to rely on outdated and poorly managed facilities that are prone to frequent breakdowns.

The association also condemned Adelabu’s alleged frequent international travels, questioning their impact on resolving Nigeria’s power issues. Investigations reveal that since assuming office, the minister has travelled to countries including Barbados, Tanzania, Japan, and the United States, as well as meeting with the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria. However, HURIWA argued that these trips have not translated into tangible improvements in electricity supply.

The group insisted that rather than embarking on foreign trips, the minister should focus on implementing policies that would address the fundamental issues plaguing the power sector, such as poor infrastructure, inadequate funding, and lack of transparency.

HURIWA emphasized the severe consequences of unreliable electricity on businesses, stating that high costs of alternative power sources have forced many to shut down. It noted that hospitals have also struggled to provide critical medical services due to power outages, further endangering lives. The group stressed that industries that rely heavily on electricity, such as manufacturing and technology, have been forced to either downsize operations or relocate to other countries with stable power supply, leading to job losses and economic decline.

The rights group accused the minister of prioritizing personal luxury over national duty and urged President Tinubu to immediately restructure the power ministry.

It called for the replacement of the current leadership with competent professionals and the implementation of accountability measures to ensure improved performance.

HURIWA also urged the government to introduce policies that would encourage private sector participation in power generation and distribution, as seen in other countries with more efficient electricity systems.

HURIWA further demanded a full audit of the funds allocated to the power sector under the Tinubu administration, questioning why billions of naira budgeted for electricity projects have not translated into improved supply. It also called on the National Assembly to summon Minister Adelabu for questioning over the persistent failures in the sector. The group emphasized that Nigerians deserve to know how public funds allocated for electricity infrastructure have been spent and whether there has been any mismanagement or diversion of resources.

The group warned that if urgent action is not taken, it would mobilize citizens for mass protests to demand accountability from the government.

It stressed that Nigerians deserve better and that the ongoing electricity crisis must be addressed without further delays. HURIWA called on civil society organizations, labour unions, and business communities to join in demanding immediate reforms in the power sector, stating that electricity is a fundamental necessity for national development and economic prosperity. The rights group insisted that if the government fails to take meaningful steps towards resolving the crisis, Nigerians should not hesitate to take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations to demand their right to a stable and reliable power supply.