Nigeria Faces Renewed Calls to Improve Power Supply Amid Frequent Blackouts

 

Nigerians continue to grapple with unpredictable power supply, as frequent blackouts across major cities and rural areas spark frustration, economic losses, and calls for urgent government intervention.

Despite decades of reforms and investments in the power sector, millions of Nigerians remain without reliable electricity, severely impacting businesses, healthcare, education, and daily life. Over the past month alone, residents in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt have reported multiple extended power outages, sometimes lasting up to 12 hours.

Small business owners like Mrs. Amina Yusuf of Lagos lament the ongoing disruptions. “We lose hundreds of thousands of naira every week because the generator fuel runs out and electricity is off,” she said. “It’s hard to plan or grow our business when we cannot depend on power.”

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Government officials acknowledge the challenges but cite aging infrastructure, gas supply shortages, and vandalism of transmission lines as major obstacles. The Minister of Power, Engr. Emeka Okafor, recently announced a new $2 billion investment plan aimed at expanding renewable energy projects and upgrading transmission networks.

“We are committed to delivering sustainable power solutions,” Okafor said. “Our goal is to increase the national grid capacity and reduce outages by 2027.”

However, critics say the government must act faster and more transparently. Activist group Power4All Nigeria called for a national audit of power projects and urged authorities to hold contractors accountable for delays.

“Promises are not enough,” said spokesperson Chinedu Nwosu. “People are tired of excuses while the lights go off daily.”

The power crisis also deepens Nigeria’s economic woes, with some estimates suggesting up to 2% loss of GDP annually due to energy inefficiency. Health facilities and schools especially suffer when power is unreliable, affecting the most vulnerable populations.

Experts advocate for more investment in off-grid solutions like solar mini-grids and stronger community involvement in maintenance and security of power infrastructure.

With the 2027 elections approaching, pressure is mounting on the federal government to demonstrate real progress. For millions of Nigerians, reliable power is not just a utility it is a cornerstone of development and quality of life.

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