In a rare moment of accountability, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, publicly apologised to millions of frustrated Nigerians on Tuesday over the escalating electricity crisis that has plunged homes, businesses, and industries into darkness for several weeks.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Adelabu admitted that the persistent power outages have caused significant hardship, especially as the dry season intensifies demand for cooling appliances across the country.
“On behalf of the Federal Government and the entire power sector, I tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians for the current poor state of electricity supply,” the Minister stated. “We understand the pain this is causing, particularly at a time when many households and businesses rely heavily on stable power for air conditioning and daily operations.”
The apology comes amid growing public anger as electricity distribution companies (Discos) continue to report sharp drops in power allocation. Industry sources attribute the crisis largely to severe gas supply constraints to thermal power plants, which generate the bulk of Nigeria’s electricity. Ongoing maintenance and repairs on critical transmission infrastructure have further compounded the problem.
Adelabu, however, offered a glimmer of hope, assuring citizens that concrete steps are being taken to reverse the situation.
“Following high-level engagements with gas suppliers and key stakeholders, we have secured firm commitments that will see gas supply to our power plants ramp up significantly,” he revealed. “Coupled with accelerated repairs on damaged lines and substations, we expect noticeable improvement in electricity supply across the country within the next two weeks.”
The Minister noted that the government is working round the clock to address both short-term bottlenecks and long-term structural challenges in the sector, including diversifying energy sources and strengthening the transmission network.
Nigerians, many of whom have endured decades of unreliable power despite huge investments in the sector, reacted with cautious optimism mixed with scepticism on social media. While some welcomed the apology and timeline, others demanded visible results, warning that repeated promises without delivery have eroded public trust.
As the two-week window begins, all eyes are now on the Ministry of Power, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), gas producers, and the Discos to deliver on this latest commitment.