By AMECHI.P (Investigative Journalist)
Opinion: Minister Adelabu’s Claim of “150 Million Nigerians with Adequate Electricity” Rings Hollow in Mowe and Ibafo
On April 17, 2025, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, boldly declared at the 2025 Ministerial Sectoral Update Conference in Abuja that “150 million Nigerians now have access to adequate electricity,” attributing this supposed milestone to the World Bank and African Development Bank’s “Mission 300” initiative.
While the minister’s optimism is commendable, it is painfully disconnected from the reality on the ground, particularly in communities like Mowe and Ibafo in Ogun State, where residents endure a paltry one day of electricity supply followed by three days of blackout.
This stark contrast exposes a troubling gap between government rhetoric and the lived experiences of Nigerians in a state touted as an industrial hub, casting a shadow of shame on both the Ogun State government and the Federal Ministry of Power.
Mowe and Ibafo, strategically located along the Lagos-Ogun industrial corridor, are home to numerous businesses and industries that drive economic activity in Nigeria’s southwest.
Proximity to Lagos, the nation’s commercial capital, should make these communities a showcase of reliable infrastructure, yet residents and business owners are trapped in a cycle of erratic power supply.
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), responsible for the area, has failed to deliver consistent electricity, with many households and businesses relying on costly generators to bridge the gap.
A local resident, Mrs. Funmi Adeoye, lamented, “We get light for one day, and then it’s darkness for three days. How is this adequate electricity? Our businesses are suffering, and our children can’t study at night.”
The minister’s claim hinges on Nigeria’s participation in “Mission 300,” which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Adelabu boasted that Nigeria is on track to account for 25% of this target, equating to 75 million Nigerians.
However, his assertion that 150 million Nigerians—over half the population—currently enjoy “adequate” electricity is not only unsubstantiated but also insulting to communities like Mowe and Ibafo, where power outages are the norm.
According to a 2021 World Bank report, only about 55% of Nigerians had access to electricity, with even fewer enjoying reliable supply.
More recent data from Afrobarometer indicates that just 13% of Nigerians enjoy a reliable supply from the national grid.
These figures paint a grim picture, far removed from Adelabu’s rosy narrative.
Ogun State, under Governor Dapo Abiodun, has positioned itself as an industrial powerhouse, attracting investments in manufacturing and logistics.
Yet, the persistent power crisis undermines this ambition.
In 2017, after a decade of blackouts, Mowe and Ibafo were briefly reconnected to the national grid through the Oke-Aro 33KV line, raising hopes of better days.
However, these hopes have been dashed, as the infrastructure remains overburdened and poorly maintained.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has cited ageing equipment, vandalism, and insufficient gas supply as reasons for the grid’s 12 collapses in 2024 alone.
These systemic failures point to a lack of coordinated action between the federal government and state authorities to prioritize power infrastructure in critical economic zones.
Adelabu’s claim also glosses over the financial burden imposed on Nigerians by recent policy decisions. In April 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved a 230
