Running on empty, electricity sector reform in Nigeria has made electricity no longer just a utility, but a weapon of national survival. In ...
Running on empty, electricity sector reform in Nigeria has made electricity no longer just a utility, but a weapon of national survival. In the modern country, electricity is the lifeblood of social engagement, public safety, economic and technological competitiveness and productivity, while Nigeria's infrastructure struggles with incessant power outages. It is usually explained away as a collapse of the National grid.
A 2023 report by The Economist says Nigeria leads Africa as the highest generator importer. It is feared that Nigeria has more people without electricity than any other country in the world. Currently, Nigeria's total electricity supply is put at some 20GW.
Less than a quarter of the country's estimated power needs.Leaving homes in darkness, while businesses, entrepreneurs and manufacturers rely on generators to power their endeavours. Trapping us in what has been labelled a Generator Economy. In recent times, several investors and companies have left Nigeria because of the rising cost of self-generating electricity to power their operations. Without electricity, Nigeria would remain poor and underdeveloped.
Light in darkness is the best elixir for underdevelopment and chronic backwardness in this postmodernist age.
Unreliable power hinders the ability of security agencies to function effectively, especially in contexts of terrorism and banditry. This surge in attacks underlines the severe lack of security around Nigeria’s power grid, especially in remote areas. Without surveillance or regular maintenance, the grid remains vulnerable, often leading to outages that disrupt livelihoods and threaten national security.
Electricity is not a luxury. It is a basic need. We must ensure that the system works in the interest of the people and supports the country’s growth and productivity.
Electricity is no longer a matter of convenience or luxury. In the 21st century, it is the bedrock upon which economies grow, societies develop, and nations protect themselves. For Nigeria, a country of more than 200 million people, the deepening electricity crisis is not just an economic bottleneck. It is rapidly becoming a threat to national security and stability.
Nigeria’s electricity failures are well documented. For decades, a cocktail of inadequate infrastructure, poor regulation, politicisation, and weak enforcement has left citizens and businesses in the dark, literally and figuratively. Yet what is less discussed is how this dysfunction extends beyond economic productivity and into the realms of security, governance, and national resilience.
The consequences are staggering. Over 86 million Nigerians, nearly 40 per cent of the population, have no access to electricity, making the country the global capital of energy poverty. Even those connected to the national grid endure epileptic supply, often receiving fewer than six hours of electricity per day. To cope, individuals and enterprises have turned to an estimated 15 million diesel generators, spending over $14 billion annually on self-generation, funds that could otherwise drive real development.
Beyond the economic waste, the implications for national security are grave. In a country confronting terrorism, banditry, piracy, and cyber threats, unreliable power hampers the operational capabilities of its security agencies. Military bases, police stations, intelligence outposts, and border posts cannot function effectively without dependable electricity. Surveillance systems fail, communication networks falter, and logistical operations are disrupted.
Abdullahi Adamu can be reached at nasabooyoyo@gmail.com
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