The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has issued a public apology to Nigerians over the severe and ongoing power outages that have disrupted homes, businesses, schools, and industries across the country. The admission comes as soaring dry-season temperatures have intensified electricity demand, leaving many struggling to cope.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Adelabu directly acknowledged the hardship caused by the erratic power supply, marking an unusually candid response from the ministry.
“I want to apologise to Nigerians, officially now, coming from me as the Minister of Power, for this temporary issue that is leading to hardship being experienced, especially during this dry season, where there is so much heat everywhere. Businesses are being affected, schools have been affected, and industries have been affected. It is not our wish to find ourselves in this situation, but it is due to some factors that are actually beyond our control,” Adelabu said.
The apology follows weeks of mounting public frustration, with many Nigerians taking to social media to express concerns over the prolonged outages amid the intense heat. Reports indicate that many households have struggled with cooling, while businesses and industries face productivity losses due to the inconsistent electricity supply.
Timeline for Improvement
Despite the current setbacks, Minister Adelabu provided a clear timeline for when Nigerians can expect relief. According to him, a committee has been set up to oversee the restoration of electricity supply, in collaboration with gas suppliers and key stakeholders in the energy sector.
“I can tell you, with the committee that we have set up, and commitments from gas suppliers, and the timeline for repair of the gas pipelines, two weeks from now, we should start seeing improvements in supply. Two weeks,” he assured.
The minister highlighted that the government has already scheduled critical repairs, particularly on facilities operated by Seplat Energy, which are crucial for restoring gas flow to power plants. Once completed, these repairs are expected to ease the current energy shortages and stabilize the national grid.
Factors Behind the Outages
Adelabu noted that the outages are largely due to issues beyond the ministry’s immediate control, including delays in gas supply and maintenance challenges at key power infrastructure. He emphasized that while the government regrets the impact on the public, measures are underway to mitigate further disruptions.
The Ministry of Power’s transparent acknowledgment marks a significant step in addressing public concerns, signaling a commitment to improving Nigeria’s electricity supply amid growing energy demand.
What Nigerians Can Expect
In addition to repair timelines, Adelabu urged patience, stressing that full restoration would be gradual as the pipelines and power plants return to optimal operation. The ministry also plans to provide updates on progress to ensure transparency and build public confidence.
With the government’s roadmap in place, Nigerians can anticipate a notable improvement in electricity supply within the next two weeks, offering relief to households, schools, businesses, and industries affected by the persistent power outages.
