Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, stirred debate across Nigeria after boasting that over 40% of Nigerians now enjoy 20 hours of electricity daily. According to his claim, this improvement affects approximately 94 million people, leaving around 140 million still in darkness. However, this statement has been met with widespread disagreement.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data contradicts the minister’s statement, suggesting that only 12 million Nigerians currently have access to electricity. Many Nigerians have taken to social media, voicing their frustration with the claim. They question the source of the minister’s data, pointing out that some households haven’t experienced even five hours of uninterrupted power supply recently. Even customers classified under Band A, who are supposed to receive better service, report facing frequent outages. Additionally, entire regions have reportedly been without electricity for months.

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Despite the criticism, a portion of the population has supported the minister’s claim, recognizing improvements in certain areas. Bayo Adelabu defended his position, stating that the power sector has made “tremendous progress” compared to when his administration took over. According to him, Nigeria now generates over 5,500 megawatts (MW), which is part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at boosting industrialization through stable power supply.

Adelabu attributed the progress to significant investments in hydroelectric power and the commissioning of new transformers and mobile substations. These efforts, he claims, have contributed to the enhanced power generation and distribution across the country.

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