Persistent electricity outages across Nigeria have intensified public calls for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu amid worsening supply shortages nationwide.
Over the past four months, electricity generation has fluctuated between 2,000 and 4,000 megawatts—far below national demand. As of March 29, 2026, distribution companies reportedly received only 2,855 megawatts, underscoring the scale of the deficit affecting households and businesses.
Electricity distribution companies attributed the situation to reduced generation, while generation companies cited gas supply constraints linked to debts estimated at more than N4 trillion as a major challenge in the sector.
Amid growing public frustration, Adelabu recently apologised to Nigerians over the persistent outages and acknowledged the sector’s difficulties. President Tinubu, speaking at a convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the proposed Grid Asset Management Company (GAMCO) would help address structural and financial constraints in the electricity value chain.
“We are paying attention to it,” Tinubu said, adding that the initiative is expected to strengthen electricity infrastructure and improve transmission capacity.
However, the apology has not slowed criticism. Lead Director of the Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekpere, called for Adelabu’s removal, describing his performance as disappointing and urging stronger leadership in the power sector. He also reminded the President of campaign promises to improve electricity supply.
In contrast, Professor Emeritus of Petroleum Economics Wumi Iledare argued that the crisis reflects deeper governance and structural problems rather than the competence of the minister alone.
According to Iledare, the Federal Government should revisit the framework of the power sector’s privatization and strengthen institutional coordination, warning that policy weaknesses could affect other sectors if not addressed.
He also advocated decentralising electricity management into regional markets involving collaboration among states, stressing that lasting reforms depend more on institutional strengthening than changes in personnel.
