- We Can No Longer Cope Under ‘Minister of Darkness’ – Netizens
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is facing renewed backlash across social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), as Nigerians vent frustration over persistent electricity outages and the continued fragility of the national grid.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the criticism intensified following recurring blackouts across the country and controversial comments previously made by the minister regarding electricity consumption in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s power sector has struggled for decades with weak infrastructure, limited generation capacity and repeated grid disturbances.
At several forums and pressers, the minister has overtime admitted that the national grid, some parts of which are over 50 years old, remains vulnerable to collapse due to aging equipment and inadequate investment.
But for many Nigerians online, those explanations have done little to ease anger.
Social media backlash
On X, citizens have responded with sarcasm, ridicule and outright condemnation.
One user, @truetalk2024, wrote: “Oga minister sir. This is why every house should have a prepaid meter so that you pay according to use. Abroad people leave their AC and fridge on too. Stop comparing Nigeria with abroad please.”
Another user, @Nature_nurtured, mocked the minister’s policies: “Don’t worry. Years later when you retire and start paying the electricity hike you proposed, you will understand how it feels.”
Other reactions circulating on X include: @official_lola_t “I am sure the National Grid has fallen again. But shame won’t allow Adelabu admit it.”
@Ozzmanic “The moment Adelabu was posting mansion pictures during a national grid collapse I knew we were in trouble.”
According to @Chidi_EnergyWatch, “Nigeria has over 200 million people and we still struggle to generate barely 5,000MW. What exactly is the Minister of Power doing?”
@NaijaPolicyGuy wrote: “Adelabu says grid collapse is inevitable because infrastructure is old. That means government has accepted failure as policy.”
@IAmTosinWrites said, “Electricity tariffs keep rising but supply keeps falling. Someone needs to explain the logic.”
“Imagine paying Band A tariff and still sleeping with generator noise every night,” noted. @AdaezeReports
@KayceeAnalyst also said “Nigeria’s grid collapsing multiple times in a year would be a national scandal anywhere else.”
Viral satire
Beyond criticism, Nigerians have also turned the situation to satire.
One widely circulated message mockingly crowned the minister with exaggerated traditional titles in Yoruba: “His Royal Highness, The Olokunkun of Okunkunland… Wiwo ni National Grid ma n wo… Eyan Powerbank… Alase Ekeji Solar Panel, Ore timo timo Generator.”
The phrase loosely translates into a biting jab suggesting the minister merely “watches the national grid collapse” while ordinary Nigerians survive using power banks, solar panels and generators.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the worsening power situation across the country has continued to cripple business, shutdown critical manufacturing industries amidst other socio-economic cum political implications.
During the outgone week, some residents of Osogbo visited the Osogbo Business District Office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to register their displeasure over the epileptic power situation in the town.
The Chairman of the communities under the umbrella of United Communities, Mr Sulaiman Buruji, led residents to the IBEDC office to submit the communiqué.
The affected communities include Owo-Eba, Garage Ilesa, Tara, Oke-Bale axis, OSBC area, Uniosun axis, Air Force Base, Army Depot, Boredun, Coker, Odu and Omu.
In the communiqué, the communities asked IBEDC to restore them to Band A.
They stated that since the reclassification of the communities from Band A to C, they have been subjected to grossly inadequate power supply.
The communiqué noted that, contrary to the Electricity Distribution Service Reflective Tariff framework, which stipulates a minimum of 12 to 16 hours of daily supply for Band C, the communities receive barely four hours of electricity per day.
It added that, in some instances, an entire day may pass without electricity supply.
According to the communiqué, the impact of the epileptic power supply has been devastating, with residents experiencing severe hardship and small-scale businesses on the verge of collapse.
“Corporate institutions are also significantly affected.
“For instance, the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation has reportedly been constrained to transmitting for less than six hours daily due to inadequate electricity supply,” the communiqué stated.
The communities demanded to be restored to Band A classification within seven days, urging IBEDC management to urgently rectify the supply deficit in line with the stipulated minimum hours of electricity per band.
The communiqué stated that failure by IBEDC to comply with their demand within the stated timeframe would compel the communities to take lawful and collective actions, including reconsidering the operational access of IBEDC personnel within the communities.
Mounting pressure on government
For critics, the ongoing electricity crisis has become a symbol of broader governance challenges under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
With businesses increasingly relying on generators and households spending heavily on alternative power sources, public frustration continues to mount.
And on social media, the verdict from many Nigerians is blunt and until the lights stay on, no explanation from the minister or the government will silence the outrage.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
