A leading civil society organisation, the Electricity Consumer Rights Network (ECRN), has called on the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, to resign following a widespread electricity outage that left many parts of Nigeria in darkness on Christmas Day.
The call was made on Friday through a statement by the convener of the network, Comrade Osita Obi, who described the near-national blackout during the festive period as “a monumental failure of leadership” in the power sector.
Obi insisted that the Minister should not only resign but also tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians for what he described as the denial of stable electricity at a time traditionally associated with family celebrations, religious gatherings, and heightened economic activity.
“The Minister of Power should resign and apologise to Nigerians for giving them darkness instead of light during this festive period,” the statement read. “In a civilised clime, he should not wait to be asked before throwing in the towel. There is no clear vision or capacity to lead a strategic ministry like the power ministry. He is a square peg in a round hole.”
Obi further urged the Federal Government to move beyond what he described as “ritual excuses” and take decisive steps to reform the power sector, stressing that electricity is central to economic growth, industrial productivity, and the overall quality of life of citizens.
The Christmas Day outage disrupted life across the country, affecting households, hospitals, places of worship, and small businesses. Many families and businesses were forced to rely heavily on generators to cope with the blackout.
For electricity consumers, the blackout compounded the financial strain already caused by inflation and the rising cost of living. Holiday celebrations, religious events, and social gatherings were interrupted in several states, leading to frustration and widespread criticism of the Ministry of Power and its leadership.
Power sector experts have often blamed such outages on a combination of technical faults, vandalism of infrastructure, and systemic weaknesses within the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). In the past, officials of TCN have explained that grid instability can result from equipment failures, under-maintenance of lines, and other operational constraints.
The ECRN, led by Osita Obi, has demanded greater accountability from the Ministry of Power and its agencies. According to the group, Nigerians have a right to transparent and timely explanations whenever nationwide outages occur, particularly during critical periods such as major public holidays.
Obi warned that the group would continue to mobilise electricity consumers nationwide to demand improved service delivery, accountability, and a clear roadmap for achieving stable and reliable power supply in the country.
“Electricity remains the lifeblood of economic development. Yet Nigerians continue to pay for a service that is inconsistent and unreliable,” Obi said. “We will not relent in our efforts to hold the Ministry of Power accountable and demand a transparent plan for fixing the system once and for all.”
The statement also criticized the leadership of the ministry for failing to provide a clear vision for the power sector, suggesting that Mr Adelabu lacks the capacity to address Nigeria’s long-standing energy problems effectively.
Nigeria’s power sector has faced systemic challenges for decades. While the country has a generation capacity of over 12,000 megawatts, actual supply rarely meets demand due to technical and infrastructural constraints. Transmission bottlenecks, outdated equipment, and poor maintenance have frequently resulted in grid collapses and rolling blackouts.
The power sector is crucial not only for residential use but also for industrial growth and national development. Stable electricity supply affects businesses, hospitals, schools, and essential services, making outages especially disruptive during festive periods when consumption tends to rise.
In recent years, successive governments have promised reforms, including privatization of some power assets, improvements in generation and transmission infrastructure, and better regulation of electricity tariffs. However, consumers continue to experience frequent outages, billing issues, and limited access to reliable power.
The Christmas Day blackout sparked strong reactions on social media and in news reports, with many Nigerians expressing anger at the Ministry of Power and the Federal Government for failing to ensure uninterrupted electricity. Small business owners, particularly those in the hospitality and retail sectors, said the outage disrupted holiday trade and added to operational costs, as most had to rely on costly generators.
Hospitals and other critical facilities also faced challenges, with some forced to switch to backup power to continue essential services. The situation highlighted the broader economic and social impact of Nigeria’s electricity instability and reinforced public demand for urgent reforms.
Despite the widespread blackout, the Ministry of Power had not issued an official response to the ECRN’s statement as of the time of filing this report. Observers say that a timely explanation from the ministry could help ease public frustration and restore confidence in the government’s ability to manage the power sector.
The ECRN has stressed that addressing Nigeria’s electricity challenges requires more than excuses. The civil society group called on the government to implement long-term solutions that include:
Improving the national grid infrastructure and maintenance practices
Increasing transparency and accountability in the Ministry of Power
Providing timely communication during power outages
Developing a clear, strategic plan to ensure stable and reliable electricity supply nationwide
“The nation deserves a power sector that works, especially during key periods when electricity is most needed,” Obi said. “The Christmas blackout is a reminder that more needs to be done to modernize and stabilize the system.”