Many Nigerians have expressed shock and critisised the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, harshly for claiming that over 40 percent of the country’s population is now enjoying up to 20 hours of electricity supply per day.
But his critics disagreed, saying the country still experience power outages and inconsistent supply at their deteriorating levels.
Reacting to Adelabu’s announcement, a resident of Lagos State, Kiwon Adesanya, said the minister’s statement is a far cry from the reality that citizens experience daily.
He said the people would only count themselves lucky if they get 8 hours of electricity in a good week, noting that “The constant power cuts are disrupting our lives and businesses.”
Echoing similar sentiments in other parts of the country, some residents of Ibadan, Oyo State capital said many businesses have collapsed due to poor power supply.
One of the affected residents, Doyin Ekundayo, a small business owner, expressed frustration with the government’s lack of transparency and accountability.
Ekundayon said it is disheartening to hear the minister claim such progress when the nation is still struggling with the same old problems.
While the government has made significant strides in recent years to improve electricity infrastructure, many Nigerians argue that the challenges facing the power sector are more complex than simply increasing generation capacity.
Factors such as transmission losses, inadequate distribution networks, and corruption have contributed to the ongoing power crisis.
Critics of the minister’s claim have called for more data-driven evidence to support his assertion.
They argue that anecdotal evidence from individual consumers is not sufficient to paint a comprehensive picture of the country’s electricity situation.
As the debate over the minister’s claim intensifies, Nigerians are demanding concrete solutions to the power crisis.
They are calling on the government to prioritize investments in renewable energy, improve grid infrastructure, and address corruption within the power sector.