Enough of the mirage: Turning Nigeria’s energy potential into power

We pride ourselves on being the Giant of Africa. But what sort of giant stumbles in perpetual darkness in the 21st century? With stable electricity, Nigeria would finally take a step closer to living up to that title. Yet after billions of naira spent by successive administrations, uninterrupted power supply remains a mirage. We are […]

We pride ourselves on being the Giant of Africa. But what sort of giant stumbles in perpetual darkness in the 21st century? With stable electricity, Nigeria would finally take a step closer to living up to that title. Yet after billions of naira spent by successive administrations, uninterrupted power supply remains a mirage.

We are abundantly blessed with natural resources. Even our harshest critics could attest to that. However, these resources have not been harnessed properly for the development of the country. We’ve tried different sources of energy and invested handsomely in hydro, wind, solar and gas. Yet, failure seems to be the constant. The Mambilla power project, for instance, despite its huge potential, defies the interventions of different administrations for the last 40 years.  

The exclusion of power from the Exclusive List by the late President Buhari’s administration has granted state governments the opportunity to harness the potential within their states for energy production. Nothing stops states within the river Niger and Benue belt from investing in hydroelectricity. The same applies to the states in the Sahel region – wind and solar energy could be the way forward. If utilised properly, removing energy from the Exclusive List can be the catalyst for a stable electricity supply.

For this to happen, the governors must put on their thinking caps. It is time to move past elephant projects. I read last week that the wives of local government chairmen in Adamawa State were flown to Turkey for leadership training. Really? So much for a state grappling with many governance deficits. It’s time to get serious. We’ve tried the top-down approach with no result to show. Now, the baton has shifted. Governors interested in governing and leaving behind a notable legacy should strive to provide stable electricity in their states. There is no denying the link between stable electricity and economic development. Each state has the required resources if properly channelled to be self-sufficient in electricity production.

Take Plateau State, for example; it is one of the states in Nigeria blessed with both human and mineral resources.  Jos, the state capital, accounted for a large proportion of the 31,000 tonnes of tin deposits in the country, according to the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. The question is, why is the Plateau State government not harnessing this energy source? Is it due to a lack of awareness?  Or willingness from the government? I am certain it is not due to the absence of expertise or manpower.

Other states are not waiting forever. Lagos has experimented with independent power projects, Kaduna has dabbled with solar plants, and private players across the country are running captive power solutions to keep factories alive. Plateau can do the same, not as an experiment but as a deliberate state policy. Imagine hydro dams on its rivers supporting agro-processing, solar farms powering Jos’ tech hubs, and mini-grids lighting up mining communities. The national grid can no longer be the excuse — states now have the legal and constitutional backing to take charge.

Nigeria has wasted too much time and too many billions chasing the mirage of constant power from the centre. If governors treat electricity not as another “white elephant project” but as the foundation of economic revival, we will begin to see change. Stable power is not just about light bulbs in homes; it is about jobs, industries, and the dignity of living in a modern economy. That is the transformation that is possible if our leaders finally decide to match resources with resolve.

 

Abdulrahman, a lecturer and strategic communication expert, wrote from Kano