President Bola Tinubu is facing mounting pressure to remove Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, over allegations of incompetence and failure to address Nigeria’s electricity crisis.
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have issued a seven-day ultimatum demanding Adelabu’s resignation or redeployment, citing his lack of expertise in the power sector.
In a joint statement signed by James Ezema (CNPP spokesman) and Ali Abacha (CNCSOs national secretary), the coalition described Adelabu as “a round peg in a square hole,” arguing that his background in finance, hospitality, and real estate does not qualify him to manage Nigeria’s struggling power sector.
Power Sector in Crisis
The coalition highlighted the dire state of Nigeria’s electricity supply, noting that:
🔴 Over 40% of Nigerians lack access to electricity.
🔴 The national grid remains unreliable, delivering only 2,000MW to 4,000MW daily, unchanged since the 1980s.
🔴 Three total grid collapses and two partial collapses were recorded in the last quarter of 2024, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
🔴 Despite poor supply, Nigerians paid ₦509.84 billion to electricity distribution companies in Q4 2024, up from ₦466.69 billion in Q3 2024.
The coalition also accused Adelabu of failing to implement the Nigerian Electricity Act 2023, which allows for decentralized electricity generation and public-private sector collaboration.
Calls for Immediate Action
“The power sector is too critical to be left in the hands of individuals who lack the requisite expertise and vision,” the coalition stated. “Minister Adelabu must resign or be redeployed immediately to prevent further damage to Nigeria’s economy and the well-being of its citizens.”
The pressure on President Tinubu to act swiftly is growing, with many watching closely to see if the administration will respond to the worsening power crisis.
