The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has launched a scathing critique of Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, accusing him of incompetence, failed leadership, and indulging in unnecessary foreign trips amid Nigeria’s ongoing electricity crisis.
In a statement released on Wednesday, HURIWA’s national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the current state of electricity supply in the country, particularly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign promise to improve the situation. The rights group highlighted the worsening national grid collapses, erratic power supply, and rising electricity tariffs, all of which have been detrimental to businesses and the economy.
According to HURIWA, Nigeria’s national grid collapsed at least 12 times in 2024 alone, with another failure recorded in March 2025. These frequent power outages have left millions of citizens and businesses struggling to cope. The rights group also referred to data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which confirmed that the national grid had collapsed 141 times in the past decade, with 46 occurrences between 2017 and 2024. In 2023 alone, the grid failed over 10 times, causing significant disruption across major cities such as Lagos and Abuja.
HURIWA questioned why power sector officials have treated these failures as routine, without implementing corrective measures. The group drew comparisons to developed nations, such as the United Kingdom, where even a single power outage prompts swift government intervention, unlike Nigeria, where power infrastructure remains outdated and poorly maintained.
The association also criticized Minister Adelabu for his frequent international travels, which it claimed have yielded no tangible results in improving Nigeria’s power supply. Since taking office, the minister has traveled to countries like Barbados, Tanzania, Japan, and the United States, but HURIWA argued that these trips have not translated into improvements on the ground. Instead, the group urged the minister to focus on addressing critical issues within the power sector, such as poor infrastructure, inadequate funding, and lack of transparency.
The impact of unreliable electricity on businesses and essential services, like hospitals, was another point of concern for HURIWA. The group noted that many businesses have been forced to shut down due to the high cost of alternative power sources, while hospitals are struggling to provide critical medical services. Industries reliant on stable electricity have been forced to downsize or relocate to countries with more reliable power, leading to job losses and economic decline.
HURIWA called for the immediate restructuring of the Ministry of Power, with a demand for the replacement of current leadership with competent professionals. The group also called for a full audit of the funds allocated to the power sector under the Tinubu administration, questioning the effectiveness of billions of naira allocated to electricity projects that have not translated into a better power supply.
In a stern warning, HURIWA announced plans to mobilize citizens for mass protests if immediate action is not taken. The group emphasized that Nigerians deserve a stable and reliable power supply and that the ongoing electricity crisis must be addressed without further delays. HURIWA urged civil society organizations, labor unions, and business communities to join in demanding urgent reforms in the power sector.
As the country continues to grapple with persistent power failures, HURIWA’s call for change resonates with the frustrations of millions of Nigerians who have endured decades of ineffective leadership and unfulfilled promises. The group maintains that urgent and decisive action is essential to prevent further economic deterioration and hardship for citizens. Whether the government will respond to these calls remains uncertain, but the need for action has never been more pressing.
