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Electricity Crisis: HURIWA Slams Power Minister Over Failures
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly criticized the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, over what it described as incompetence, failed leadership, and unnecessary foreign trips while the country grapples with a worsening electricity crisis.
This was detailed in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in Abuja, on Monday, in which the HURIWA expressed disappointment that despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign promise to improve electricity supply, the situation has continued to deteriorate.
The rights group highlighted the frequent collapse of the national grid, erratic power supply, and increasing electricity tariffs that have negatively impacted businesses and the economy.
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“Reports indicate that Nigeria’s national grid experienced at least 12 collapses in 2024, with another recorded in March 2025. These failures have led to widespread power outages across the country, with little explanation from the Ministry of Power beyond references to gas shortages, vandalism, or system disturbances. The recurring collapses have exacerbated economic hardships, leaving millions of citizens and businesses struggling to cope with unreliable power supply,” the HURIWA frowned.
Citing data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the HURIWA noted that the national grid has collapsed at least 141 times in the past decade, with 46 recorded between 2017 and 2024. In 2023 alone, the grid failed more than 10 times, plunging millions of Nigerians into darkness. The group recalled that in September 2023, the national grid collapsed twice in one week, while another failure in February 2024 left major cities such as Lagos and Abuja without electricity for days.
The HURIWA criticized power sector officials for treating these failures as routine occurrences instead of taking decisive corrective measures. It compared Nigeria’s situation to developed nations, where even a single power failure prompts swift government intervention. The group referenced the United Kingdom’s 2019 power outage, which led to an immediate response, contrasting it with Nigeria’s lack of urgency in addressing persistent blackouts.
According to the group, while developed countries invest heavily in maintaining and upgrading their power infrastructure, Nigeria continues to rely on outdated and poorly managed facilities that are prone to frequent breakdowns.
The association also condemned Adelabu’s frequent international travels, questioning their impact on resolving Nigeria’s power issues. Investigations reveal that since assuming office, the minister has travelled to countries including Barbados, Tanzania, Japan, and the United States, as well as meeting with the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria.
However, the HURIWA argued that these trips have not translated into tangible improvements in electricity supply. The group insisted that rather than embarking on foreign trips, the minister should focus on implementing policies that would address the fundamental issues plaguing the power sector, such as poor infrastructure, inadequate funding, and lack of transparency.
The HURIWA emphasized the severe consequences of unreliable electricity on businesses, stating that high costs of alternative power sources have forced many to shut down. It noted that hospitals have also struggled to provide critical medical services due to power outages, further endangering lives. The group stressed that industries that rely heavily on electricity, such as manufacturing and technology, have been forced to either downsize operations or relocate to other countries with stable power supply, leading to job losses and economic decline.
The rights group accused the minister of prioritizing personal luxury over national duty and urged President Tinubu to immediately restructure the power ministry.
It called for the replacement of the current leadership with competent professionals and the implementation of accountability measures to ensure improved performance. The HURIWA also urged the government to introduce policies that would encourage private sector participation in power generation and distribution, as seen in other countries with more efficient electricity systems.
The HURIWA further demanded a full audit of the funds allocated to the power sector under the Tinubu administration, questioning why billions of naira budgeted for electricity projects have not translated into improved supply.
It also called on the National Assembly to summon Adelabu for questioning over the persistent failures in the sector. The group emphasized that Nigerians deserve to know how public funds allocated for electricity infrastructure have been spent and whether there has been any mismanagement or diversion of resources.
The group warned that if urgent action is not taken, it would mobilize citizens for mass protests to demand accountability from the government. It stressed that Nigerians deserve better and that the ongoing electricity crisis must be addressed without further delays.
In addition, the HURIWA called on civil society organizations, labour unions, and business communities to join in demanding immediate reforms in the power sector, stating that electricity is a fundamental necessity for national development and economic prosperity. The rights group insisted that if the government fails to take meaningful steps towards resolving the crisis, Nigerians should not hesitate to take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations to demand their right to a stable and reliable power supply.
With the worsening power situation, the HURIWA’s demands reflect the frustrations of millions of Nigerians who have endured decades of failed promises and ineffective reforms. Whether the government will heed these calls for change remains to be seen, but the group maintains that urgent and decisive action is needed to prevent further economic deterioration and hardship for citizens.
The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has extended the deadline for the submission of memoranda and position papers on the proposed legislation to Friday, August 21, 2026.
The extension, announced on Thursday, is aimed at giving Nigerians, institutions and other stakeholders more time to prepare and submit substantive contributions to the proposed reform of the country’s policing architecture.
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Chairman of the Working Group and Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the additional time was necessary to ensure broad consultation and enable stakeholders to make well-considered and technically sound contributions.
“The Presidential Working Group is committed to ensuring that the process of developing the National Policing Bill benefits from broad consultation and the informed perspectives of Nigerians and relevant stakeholders.
“The proposed legislation is intended to provide the operational, administrative, institutional and funding framework necessary for an effective policing architecture that responds to Nigeria’s evolving security needs while providing appropriate safeguards for accountability, professionalism and the protection of citizens’ rights,” Gbajabiamila said.
The Working Group had initially set August 13 as the deadline for public submissions but has now shifted it to 5:00 p.m. WAT on August 21.
Gbajabiamila urged legal practitioners, civil society organisations, security sector professionals, state governments, professional bodies, academics, experts and other interested members of the public to take advantage of the extension.
“All submissions must be made on or before 5:00 p.m. WAT on Friday, August 21, 2026, exclusively through the official National Policing Bill portal, nationalpolicingbill.com,” he stated.
According to the Working Group, the proposed legislation will address critical areas including sustainable funding, command and control structures, recruitment and training standards, operational jurisdiction, inter-agency coordination, accountability mechanisms and safeguards against political interference or abuse.
Gbajabiamila said these issues make extensive stakeholder engagement essential to producing a policing framework that is effective, accountable, sustainable and responsive to the security needs of communities across the federation.
“The Working Group recognises that developing an effective policing framework requires careful consideration of critical issues, including sustainable funding, command and control structures, recruitment and training standards, operational jurisdiction, inter-agency coordination, accountability mechanisms and safeguards against political interference or abuse.
“These considerations underscore the importance of robust stakeholder engagement in developing a framework that is effective, accountable, sustainable and responsive to the peculiar security needs of communities across the Federation,” he said.
The Working Group, inaugurated by President Tinubu to develop the legal framework for the implementation of state police, is expected to present a final, implementation-ready draft of the National Policing Bill for onward legislative processing.
The proposed bill is being developed alongside the constitutional amendment process required to establish state police, with the legislation expected to provide the detailed operational framework for federal and state policing.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reshuffled his cabinet, redeploying the suspended Commissioner for Livestock Development, Prof. Omorodion Ikponmwosa, to the Ministry of Oil and Gas.
The minor cabinet shake-up also saw two newly sworn-in commissioners assigned portfolios, while two other serving commissioners were redeployed.
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Ikponmwosa was suspended on July 19, 2026, alongside the State Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (LPRES) Project, Mrs. Ikpikhumi Betsy Aghaku, over what the state government described as an “official infraction.”
The government did not provide further details on the nature of the alleged infraction during his suspension.
The latest changes were contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, who said the exercise was aimed at strengthening governance, enhancing efficiency and improving service delivery across the state.
Under the new arrangement, Mr. Iriabekhai Kayode Jeffery, one of the newly sworn-in commissioners, was deployed to the Ministry of Mining, while Mr. Martin Anayochukwu Oli was assigned to the newly created Ministry of Inter-Ethnic Relations.
The Commissioner for Communications, Mr. Ohimai Ehijimetor, was redeployed to the Ministry of Livestock Development.
Ikponmwosa, who previously headed Livestock Development, was moved to the Ministry of Oil and Gas, while Mr. Andrew Momodu, the former Commissioner for Oil and Gas, was redeployed to the Ministry of Communications.
The state government said the changes were made to better align responsibilities with the “respective skills, experience and competencies” of members of the State Executive Council.
Explaining the creation of the Ministry of Inter-Ethnic Relations, the government said it was established to “promote inter-ethnic and inter-community harmony, strengthen peaceful coexistence, and harness the rich and ever-evolving diversity of Edo citizens as an asset for the development and unity of the state.”
All the deployments and redeployments take immediate effect, with the affected commissioners directed to ensure seamless handover and assumption of duties.
Governor Okpebholo also urged members of the State Executive Council to bring “renewed vigour, professionalism and commitment” to their respective assignments.
According to the government, the governor expects the cabinet members to support his administration’s determination to deliver “efficient, responsive and people-centred governance” to the people of Edo State.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko, has intercepted and seized 6,035 wraps of cannabis sativa with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2,087,603,186.76 across different locations in Ogun State.
The Area Comptroller of the command, Olukayode Afeni, disclosed this on Thursday while handing over the seized drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Area Command.
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Afeni said the handover was carried out in line with standard operating procedures and the legal framework for further investigation.
He raised concern over the circulation of potent cannabis strains, particularly Ghana Loud and Colorado, warning that their smuggling could pose serious risks to young people and communities.
According to Afeni, Ghana Loud has been linked to acute psychosis, severe cardiovascular distress, rapid addiction and long-term mental health challenges.
“The high profit margin of Ghana Loud is also linked to violent criminal networks, human trafficking, and illegal proliferation of arms across the borders,” he said.
The comptroller further warned that the smuggling of cannabis and other dangerous variants to young demographics could destabilise schools and local communities.
Afeni disclosed that from January to date, the Ogun 1 Area Command had handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw cannabis sativa to the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command.
He described the fight against drug smuggling as a collective responsibility and reaffirmed the Customs Service’s commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders and protecting the future of young Nigerians.
Afeni also warned drug traffickers to desist from the illicit trade, stressing that the command would continue to intercept illegal consignments and bring those involved to justice.
Speaking on the development, the NDLEA commander, represented by Adewale Fagbohun, a Director in Narcotics, commended the Customs Service for its efforts.
He said the seizure demonstrated the diligence and resilience of Customs personnel in securing the nation’s borders and protecting society.
The NDLEA also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Customs Service and other relevant agencies to disrupt the activities of drug smugglers.
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