Electricity Consumer Protection Advocacy Centre has voiced strong opposition to the Ministry of Power’s assertion that over 40 percent of Nigerians now receive up to 20 hours of daily electricity supply.
The advocacy group argues that this claim does not reflect the reality faced by many consumers across the country, according to The Punch.
The claim, made by Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu on Sunday, has been met with skepticism from consumer advocates who argue that the data lacks transparency and accuracy.
They contend that the reported improvements in power supply do not align with the experiences of many Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Adelabu announced significant improvements in Nigeria’s electricity supply, attributing this progress to various reforms initiated under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“The major achievement is the fact that today we generate over 5,500 megawatts of power, we transmit and distribute it, and over 40 per cent of customers today enjoy over 20 hours of regular power supply across the nation. You can see that there is a significant improvement between when we came in and now, which we intend to improve further,” he said.
However, ECPAC’s Executive Director, Chief Princewill Okorie, described the minister’s claims as “laughable.”
Okorie suggested that the Ministry of Power establish a consumer protection department to collect accurate data on electricity supply, stating “The data is false, and the government should look at resolving the electricity consumers’ complaints rather than dishing out false reports.”
Adelabu’s comments also emphasized the ministry’s commitment to infrastructure improvements and strategic initiatives, including the signing of the new Electricity Act of 2023.
He noted that installed generation capacity has increased from 13,000 MW to over 14,000 MW, thanks to the addition of new hydroelectric power plants and upgrades to existing facilities.
“This administration was inaugurated on May 29, 2023. However, ministers were appointed on August 21, 2023. We are just a bit over a year old in the office. Upon resumption, we had an installed generation capacity of 13,000MW, but we were only producing, transmitting, and distributing about 4,000MW of power to the entire country,” Adelabu said.
Despite these assertions, consumer advocates remain skeptical.
Okorie reiterated the need for more robust consumer engagement, stating, “The government must engage with actual consumers and their experiences. We want to see real-time data and solutions, not just announcements.”
Adelabu emphasized the essential role of stable electricity in any economy, asserting that for most developed nations, the foundation of success lies in achieving reliable, functional, and affordable electricity for industries, businesses, institutions, and households.
“This is why you see great economies like Korea, China, Europe, and North America industrialized today. Their stability in electricity supply has been instrumental to their economic growth and industrial development. That’s why we say that we must achieve this for Nigeria as a country. We need to achieve the requisite economic growth and industrial development,” he said.
He continued, “President Bola Tinubu included this in the Renewed Hope Agenda as a major electoral policy to Nigerians. In his New Year speech on January 1, 2024, he emphasised the need for the country to have stable, functional, and reliable electricity to drive other critical sectors.
“This is the only way we can achieve the required economic growth and industrial development. In fact, none of the critical sectors can function optimally without electricity stability and functionality.”
