By ALO360 Editorial board
President Bola Tinubu should relieve Adebayo Adelabu of his position as minister of power. This is no longer a matter of political convenience; it is a question of national survival. The power sector sits at the heart of any functioning economy, and Nigeria’s continued failure in this area reflects a deep leadership problem that cannot be ignored or excused.
A few days ago, Adelabu stood before Nigerians and apologised for the worsening electricity situation, attributing it to “forces beyond his control.” That statement is not only disappointing; it is dangerous. Governance does not permit helplessness. Leadership does not outsource responsibility to vague, undefined forces. When a minister admits he cannot control the sector he was appointed to manage, he effectively admits he is unfit for the job.
There are no forces beyond control in fixing electricity. There are only systems that require competence, coordination, and accountability. Even in conflict zones, governments prioritise power supply because they understand its centrality to survival and economic activity. Nigeria, by contrast, continues to normalise failure.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has already explained the cause of the current crisis: persistent gas supply challenges affecting thermal power plants. This is not an act of God. It is a failure of planning, regulation, and coordination between critical sectors. Gas does not vanish mysteriously. It is either not produced, not transported, or not paid for. Each of these points to human decisions — or the lack of them.
The consequences are visible everywhere.
Businesses operate under crushing costs. Small and medium enterprises — the backbone of Nigeria’s economy — now spend more on diesel than on labour. With diesel prices hovering around ₦1,800 per litre and petrol around ₦1,300, many can no longer stay afloat. Shops close earlier. Production slows. Jobs disappear quietly.
Doctors and nurses work under intense heat, with unreliable power affecting equipment, storage, and general service delivery. In a country where temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius in many regions, this is not a minor inconvenience; it is a threat to human dignity and effective healthcare.
Schools face similar strain. Learning becomes difficult in overheated classrooms without power. Students and teachers endure conditions that undermine productivity and focus. At home, families live in constant discomfort, unable to sleep, preserve food, or maintain basic standards of living.
Electricity has become a luxury in Nigeria.
This reality exposes a deeper contradiction. While millions of Nigerians remain in darkness, the federal government plans to spend ₦10 billion to take Aso Rock off the national grid. The message is clear: power for the elite, darkness for the people. That decision alone reflects a troubling disconnect between leadership and lived reality.
The economic cost is staggering. NISO estimates that power outages cost Nigeria about ₦40 trillion annually. That figure represents lost productivity, failed businesses, reduced investments, and a weakened economy. No country can sustain such losses and still claim to be serious about development.
Yet, the minister’s response remains an apology.
Apologies do not generate megawatts. They do not fix transmission lines. They do not resolve gas supply bottlenecks. They do not inspire confidence in investors or hope in citizens. They merely acknowledge failure without addressing it.
More troubling is the perception that the minister is distracted. With growing political ambitions in Oyo state, Adelabu appears to have divided his focus at a time when the country demands total commitment. The power sector is too critical to be managed as a part-time responsibility.
This raises a fundamental question: why entrust such a vital ministry to someone without demonstrable expertise in power systems or energy management? Nigeria cannot afford to treat technical sectors as political rewards. The cost is too high, and the consequences are already evident.
President Tinubu must act decisively. Leadership requires difficult decisions, especially when performance falls short. Retaining a minister who openly admits a lack of control sends the wrong signal — that accountability is optional and failure carries no consequence.
The president himself has set the standard. He said Nigerians should not vote for him in 2027 if he fails to fix power. That statement was not casual; it was a commitment. It must now serve as a benchmark for action.
Fixing power requires urgency, competence, and coordination. It requires a leader who understands the sector and can drive reform across generation, transmission, and distribution. It requires someone who sees electricity not as a talking point, but as a national priority.
Nigeria cannot continue to stumble in darkness while excuses multiply.
The situation is clear. The data is clear. The suffering is clear.
All Nigerians are asking for is electricity.
Nothing more. Nothing else.
