On Monday, 3 June, Nigerian labour unions, protesting for higher wages and lower electricity tariffs, forced a nationwide blackout that lasted two days. While the wisdom of this tactic can be debated, it highlights the severe hardships Nigerians face due to unreliable power and a seemingly unresponsive government.
One year into President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” administration, objective indicators (as seen in Bismark Rewane’s presentation on Channels TV) suggest the country’s situation has worsened. Government spending appears focused on self-serving pursuits rather than initiatives that stimulate economic growth. A glaring example is the Lagos-Calabar road project. Despite public resistance and billions in private property demolition, the administration bulldozed through with awarding the N15 trillion project to a close associate of Mr Tinubu, bypassing a cost-benefit analysis and public bidding process.
Frequent blackouts disrupt daily life and hinder economic development. This situation has been exacerbated by the recent government decision to raise electricity tariffs. Band A customers now face a staggering 400 per cent increase, from N50/kWh to N220/kWh. Other bands saw close to a 50 per cent hike to roughly N70/kWh. While intended to improve the power sector’s financial health, these increases create an even greater burden on already struggling families and businesses, especially considering the unreliable power supply.
