President Bola Tinubu has strongly condemned violence in all its forms and warned politicians and their supporters that his administration will not tolerate thuggery ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a personally signed statement issued on Friday, November 13, and shared on X by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said being in different political parties or pursuing different ambitions does not make political actors enemies.
The statement was titled: “Let’s Shun Violence: Our Campaigns Must Be About Issues That Promote The Welfare Of Our People.”
What Tinubu Said
“I have followed recent reports of violence accompanying political events in different parts of the country,” Tinubu said.
“Every form of violence stands condemned. Violence should never have a place in our political campaigns as we move toward the 2027 general elections.”
“Our campaigns should be about issues — a contestation of ideas that promotes the welfare of our people and the progress of our country.”
“As the leader of this country, I commit myself to a peaceful, free, and fair election, and I urge political leaders and supporters across party lines to conduct themselves responsibly.”
“I have said that being in different political parties or pursuing different ambitions does not make us enemies.”
Order To Security Agencies
Tinubu reiterated his previous directive to security agencies to go after those behind violent acts, irrespective of their political leanings.
“I want to reiterate my previous directive to the security agencies: be strict and firm against anyone who seeks to test our resolve and will to preserve public order,” he said.
“We shall not tolerate any irresponsible conduct by politicians and their supporters.”
“Security agencies are therefore authorised to confront thuggery and other anti-social and anti-democratic activities with full force.”
He added that his administration is committed to an orderly and peaceful election, and that all political parties and candidates should be protected and free to campaign anywhere in the country without molestation or fear for their safety.
Why Now
The warning comes amid a growing wave of political violence across the country.
On Thursday, November 12, suspected political thugs disrupted a town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in support of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Oregun, Lagos State.
The incident drew condemnation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with APC campaign spokesperson Dele Alake expressing dismay and asking security agencies to be on alert.
It also comes after reports of violence greeting the President’s visit to the Shehu Shagari Mosque in Abuja on Friday, where he went to observe Juma’at prayer.
The statement is the latest in a series of warnings from the Presidency as campaigns intensify ahead of the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The Peace Accord signed by candidates has already been flagged for over 100 breaches, raising fears about the credibility and safety of the polls.
Nigeria’s improving currency position and easing inflation have strengthened its economic outlook, but renewed energy price pressures, high government borrowing costs and shallow domestic capital markets threaten to undermine the gains, S&P Global Ratings has warned.
In its latest report titled _African Markets Quarterly Highlights: Inflation and Financing Remain Key Risks_, S&P identified Nigeria among African economies facing renewed inflationary pressures from tighter diesel supplies, higher food prices and elevated international financing costs.
The report highlights a growing contradiction in Nigeria’s economic outlook: while recent reforms have improved some macroeconomic indicators, the underlying structure of the economy remains vulnerable to external shocks and expensive domestic financing.
Diesel Surge Threatens Food Inflation
One of the immediate concerns is the resurgence of energy-related inflation.
S&P’s analysis shows that diesel prices in Nigeria recorded one of the largest increases among the African economies reviewed between December 2025 and September 2026.
The agency attributed the pressure to tightening global diesel supplies, estimating that approximately two million barrels per day of diesel export supply from the Middle East and Russia had been lost since July 2026.
S&P warned that an average 18 per cent increase in diesel prices across African markets could feed into food and consumer inflation, eroding household purchasing power.
Diesel remains a critical fuel for Nigerian manufacturers, logistics operators, telecoms firms and small businesses that run generators to supplement unreliable electricity supply.
Higher diesel prices therefore extend beyond transportation costs, potentially increasing production expenses, distribution costs and consumer prices.
Naira Gains, But Inflation Risk Remains
According to S&P, the naira appreciated approximately one per cent against the dollar during the period covered by its analysis, making Nigeria one of the few African economies to record currency gains despite renewed geopolitical tensions and global market volatility.
However, the agency warned that the broader inflation outlook remains exposed to imported energy costs and exchange rate pressures.
It noted that headline inflation had eased to 14.63 per cent in September 2026, but that the benefit to households was limited by rising transport and food costs.
Expensive Borrowing Squeezes Government
The bigger concern is the cost of government finance.
S&P projects that interest payments will absorb 22.2 per cent of general government revenue in 2026, with net government debt estimated at 49.4 per cent of gross domestic product and a fiscal deficit of 4.4 per cent of GDP.
African sovereign dollar bond yields have risen to 8.9 per cent, approaching their three-year average of 9.3 per cent, which raises refinancing costs for governments seeking funds in international markets.
The agency also pointed to shallow domestic markets, with gross domestic savings at 27 per cent of GDP but private sector credit at just 15 per cent and non-bank financial assets at only 7.7 per cent of GDP.
S&P argued that addressing Africa’s financing requirements will require more than additional government borrowing.
Rating And Outlook
Its sovereign dashboard places Nigeria’s long-term foreign currency rating at ‘B’ with a stable outlook, improved from ‘B-‘ with a positive outlook, following Nigeria’s first S&P upgrade since 2012 in May 2026.
The upgrade was driven by three years of sustained structural reforms, the 2023 foreign exchange liberalisation, higher oil production and domestic refining capacity, notably the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery.
S&P said further progress will depend on sustaining macroeconomic and fiscal improvements.
The agency also projected that West Africa’s working-age population will increase significantly over the next decade, adding approximately 100 million workers to the regional labour force, underscoring the urgency of creating productive jobs.
The report explains why headline GDP growth of 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026 and lower inflation have not eased household costs for many Nigerians.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has promised that no Nigerian will go to bed hungry if he wins the 2027 presidential election, pledging to tackle insecurity, unemployment and hunger and build a Nigeria where no citizen is left behind.
Obi made the pledge on Wednesday during a town hall meeting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, as part of his 2027 campaign activities and a humanitarian visit to Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area.
He was accompanied by his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
“We are seeking office to be able to ensure that people can go to bed without being hungry. We will care for you. We are not a government for a few people. We are seeking office to unite Nigeria and secure the country. Nigeria is one,” Obi said.
Security Pledge
Obi said a new Nigeria was possible, promising decisive action against kidnapping, killings and other security threats.
“If we are in government, nobody will witness what is happening in the country today. If you kidnap school children or kill anybody and try to run into the bush, we will go into the bush with you and we will get you. We must stop this act. Nigeria must be secured,” he said.
“I will secure Nigeria. It is our duty to ensure that Nigerians live in safety, in a country where people are no longer killed daily, where school children are no longer kidnapped. We will ensure that all Nigerians go to bed to sleep with their eyes closed.”
He added: “We will secure Benue, build a better society for all Nigerians.”
He called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the worsening security situation, particularly persistent insurgency and attacks that have displaced communities.
From Consumption To Production
Obi also promised to move the economy from consumption to production, create jobs for young Nigerians and give youths a greater role in governance.
“Our number one commitment is to unite Nigeria because today we have no unity. We are divided along tribal and religious lines. That should not be. We are Nigerians,” he said.
“For the youths, we want to ensure you finish school and be able to start your own business or get a job. Those with no jobs today, we assure you of our commitment that you will have something to do. Youth unemployment is unacceptable.”
“We will build a society where a child of nobody will be somebody without knowing anybody.”
He lamented that under President Tinubu, “Nigeria has gotten more money but citizens do not know where the money is going.”
He also decried the alleged absence of federal projects in Benue, promising to invest in infrastructure, healthcare and education, and to fight corruption and revive primary healthcare.
Visit To Tor Tiv And Yelewata
Earlier, Obi, Kwankwaso and other NDC officials visited the Tor Tiv and Chairman of the Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Rulers, Prof. James Ayatse, at his palace in Gboko.
The delegation later proceeded to Yelewata, a community along the Makurdi-Lafia Road in Guma LGA, to commiserate with residents and families of victims of the June 13, 2025 attack, in which more than 100 residents were reportedly killed by suspected terrorists. Some reports put the figure at 271.
Obi and his entourage were received by crowds of supporters and well-wishers at different locations in Makurdi, Yelewata and Gboko.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027.
President Bola Tinubu has asked the House of Representatives to approve the implementation of an external borrowing plan worth about ₦10.8 trillion under the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The request was conveyed in a letter read by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during plenary on Wednesday, November 11.
Tinubu said the proposed borrowing would support the implementation of projects captured in the 2026 budget and strengthen the macroeconomic gains recorded by his administration.
*Not A Fresh Borrowing, Says Speaker*
Speaker Abbas clarified that the ₦10.790 trillion was not a new borrowing plan.
“It is important to say that the request is not a fresh borrowing plan. The National Assembly previously approved this amount and provided for it in the 2026 Appropriation Act as part of the approved borrowing to finance the budget deficit,” Abbas said.
The President explained that his request was in line with the provisions of Sections 21(1) and 27(1) of the Debt Management Office Establishment Act 2003, which require the National Assembly to approve the terms and conditions of external loans before they are accessed.
In the letter, Tinubu wrote:
“I write to request for the permission of the House of Representatives to implement the new external borrowing plan contained in the 2026 Appropriation Act in the sum of ₦10,790,366,835,481 which is equivalent to $7,707,404,882.49 at the budget exchange rate of $1 to ₦1,400 for the part financing of the budget deficit of ₦29.218 trillion.”
Breakdown Of 2026 Borrowing
The 2026 Appropriation Act approved ₦29.218 trillion as new borrowings to partly finance the 2026 budget deficit of ₦31.545 trillion.
The total new borrowing was subdivided into domestic borrowing of ₦18.28 trillion and new external borrowing of ₦10.790 trillion.
The President proposed raising the external component through a combination of concessional and commercial loans from multilateral and bilateral institutions, bridge financing facilities and Eurobond issuance.
He said priority would be given to Eurobond issuance because of its relatively faster completion process and potential to raise substantial funds at competitive costs.
He however acknowledged that final interest rates, repayment periods and other borrowing conditions would depend on prevailing conditions in the international financial market when the facilities are priced.
What The Loans Will Fund
In a statement titled _From Reforms to Delivery: Our Infrastructure Investment and Growth Strategy_, Tinubu said the focus should be on the projects the loans would finance and the economic value they would create, not just the amount borrowed.
“The key question is not how much we borrow, but what we build, the value we create and the future we leave behind,” he said.
He listed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Trans-Sahara Superhighway, electricity grid improvements and upgrades to major commercial ports in Lagos among the projects the government plans to fund.
The President also said the funds would support projects in defence and security, transportation, agriculture, power, education and healthcare.
Tinubu Defends Borrowing
Tinubu defended his administration’s borrowing plans, arguing that Nigeria requires long-term investments in infrastructure to achieve its ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
He cited economic gains including GDP growth of 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, headline inflation dropping to 14.63 per cent in September from 20.98 per cent in the same period last year, gross external reserves of $55.1 billion as of October 9, 2026, and tax-to-GDP ratio increasing to 12.5 per cent from seven per cent.
He also said net FAAC allocations rose by 44 per cent from ₦15.2 trillion in 2024 to ₦21.9 trillion in 2025.
Criticism From NLC
The request comes amid growing concerns over Nigeria’s rising debt profile.
According to the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s total public debt stood at ₦166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026, comprising ₦91.59 trillion in domestic debt and ₦75.20 trillion in external obligations.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has questioned the government’s continued borrowing despite increased revenue following the removal of petrol subsidy.
NLC President Joe Ajaero questioned the justification for seeking additional foreign loans, particularly when the 2026 budget had been prepared using an oil price benchmark of $70 per barrel and debt servicing took about 65% of revenue in the first half of the year.
Speaker Abbas also clarified that the request is distinct from the President’s separate supplementary borrowing request for $20.52 billion and €1.05 billion, which remains subject to consideration on its own merit.
The House is expected to refer the request to its Committee on Local and Foreign Debt for consideration.
President Bola Tinubu has ruled out any possibility of restoring fuel subsidy, insisting his administration will sustain the policy and redirect savings towards critical sectors of the economy.
The President made the declaration on Tuesday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally at the Dutse Township Stadium in Dutse, Jigawa State, where he presented the party’s manifesto and economic development agenda ahead of the 2027 general election.
Tinubu dismissed suggestions that the Federal Government was considering a return to fuel subsidy, describing such claims as misleading.
“To those who say subsidy is coming back, it’s a lie. Don’t let them lie to you again. It’s not going to come back,” he declared.
“We cannot spend the future of our children today and feel that they will grow tomorrow. No, they have to be in school. We have to invest in their education. We have to invest in agriculture.”
He argued that returning to the previous subsidy arrangement would jeopardise the future of Nigerian children and undermine the government’s ability to finance development projects.
*Interest-Free Loans For Farmers*
On agriculture, Tinubu announced plans to introduce interest-free loans for smallholder farmers and establish mechanised farming service centres across the six geopolitical zones.
“We will subsidise farming. We will reward small-scale farmers. Interest-free loans for farmers are coming. Prosperity is coming. Food security will happen,” he said.
“I hope you hear me, Jigawa. There will be interest-free loans for small-scale farmers. We are going to install a mechanised farming service centre in six geographical locations: mechanised farming.”
He said the initiatives would boost agricultural production, improve food security and reduce food prices.
“We have the arable land, we have the commitment, we have the people. We can feed ourselves and we will bring the food prices down to the minimum,” Tinubu added.
He also said universities would do more research and development in agriculture than ever before.
*Projects Commissioned*
Before addressing the campaign rally, the President commissioned projects executed by the Jigawa State Government, including the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Multipurpose Skills Acquisition Centre and a three-kilometre stretch of the 15-kilometre Police-to-Palace Road network, both in Dutse.
He praised Governor Umar Namadi for his performance in the state.
Tinubu, who formally launched the APC’s manifesto for the 2027 presidential election later in the evening, said the administration was determined to consolidate its economic reforms while introducing measures to improve living standards and expand opportunities for Nigerians.
He also vowed to defeat those he described as enemies of Nigeria’s unity and stability, telling supporters that the fight against insecurity will be won.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has unveiled a four-pillar manifesto outlining President Bola Tinubu’s agenda for a second term in office, with promises to tackle insecurity, reduce the cost of living, expand infrastructure and strengthen governance between 2027 and 2031.
The manifesto, titled ‘Renewed Hope Agenda 2.0’ / ‘From Reforms to Prosperity’, was unveiled by the party’s Presidential Campaign Council on Tuesday, November 10, in Abuja.
The 109-page document consolidates the eight-point agenda of the Tinubu administration into four strategic pillars:
1. Secure and Resilient Nation
2. Better Quality and More Affordable Life for Every Nigerian
3. Energy, Infrastructure and Economic Growth
4. Effective and Accountable Governance
The party said the new framework was designed to build on the economic reforms and other policies implemented during Tinubu’s first term, with the aim to improve on them and living conditions of Nigerians.
Pillar 1: Secure and Resilient Nation
The first pillar focuses on tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats.
The APC promised to recruit 28,000 additional military personnel and complete four new Army divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.
It also promised to deploy 50,000 new police officers and strengthen intelligence and border security.
Pillar 2: Better Quality and More Affordable Life
The second pillar covers education, healthcare, jobs and social welfare.
The manifesto pledged to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure from 71 per cent to below 50 per cent, expand the number of functional primary healthcare centres to 90 per cent and establish the Tinubu Mass Social Housing Scheme across the country’s 774 local government areas.
It also retained cash transfers and school feeding as key social protection measures, and promised to build 200,000 homes.
Pillar 3: Energy, Infrastructure and Economic Growth
Under the third pillar, the APC targets 6 per cent annual economic growth by 2031 and repeats the administration’s ambition of a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
For electricity, the plan aims to scale generation towards 10,000 megawatts, strengthen transmission and distribution, and install seven million additional meters.
The manifesto also highlighted economic indicators which the administration presented as achievements since 2023. These included foreign reserves of $55.3bn as of September 2026, gross domestic product growth of 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026 and inflation of 14.63 per cent in September 2026.
Pillar 4: Effective and Accountable Governance
Under the fourth pillar, the APC pledged to strengthen the justice system, fight corruption, improve public service delivery and deepen local government autonomy.
The party also promised a public scorecard for tracking delivery of the manifesto promises.
The document contains at least 35 specific promises, according to reports.
A comparison of the 2027 document with the 2023 manifesto shows similarities in areas including housing, agriculture, electricity, transportation, healthcare, youth employment, women’s empowerment, social protection, national security, industrialisation, identity management, judicial reform and water supply, with fresh targets and timelines attached to some of the proposals.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The Quiet Collapse of Essential Public Services and the Growing Burden on Nigerian Citizens.
There was a time when access to public water supply was regarded as a normal expectation of citizenship. Government was expected to provide treated water through public waterworks and distribution networks, while households and businesses depended on these facilities for their daily needs.
While growing up in my hometown of Enugwu-Ukwu, I remember with nostalgia how one Polycarp, who worked with the Water Board in nearby Nimo community, operated the public water supply system, regulating the distribution of water through its scheduled switching on and off.
Like a Reverend Father attending to his congregation, Polycarp discharged his responsibilities with remarkable dedication, discipline and zeal. He delivered this essential public service with a level of commitment, precision and efficiency that ensured considerable satisfaction among the people who depended on the system.
Sadly, the sustained development and expansion of public utilities in Nigeria suffered serious setbacks over the years. Military intervention in Nigeria’s political development contributed to institutional instability, policy discontinuity and the weakening of public-sector accountability. These challenges, compounded by inadequate investment, poor maintenance culture and successive governance failures, undermined the capacity of public institutions to sustain and expand essential infrastructure.
One cannot help but imagine what our communities might look like today if successive governments had consistently invested in expanding public water infrastructure and connecting households across the South-East and other parts of Nigeria. Such an investment was not beyond the country’s capacity. Beyond improving public health and living conditions, it would have created employment opportunities, stimulated local economic activities and generated significant multiplier effects across the economy.
Today, in many Nigerian communities, public water supply has become almost a forgotten concept.
Boreholes, water vendors, private water schemes and packaged water have taken over much of the responsibility that public institutions were established to fulfil. What was once regarded as a basic public service has increasingly become a privately financed necessity.
Unfortunately, electricity supply appears to be following the same trajectory.
The warning signs are increasingly difficult to ignore. Across Nigeria, households, businesses, schools, hospitals and even public institutions are investing in alternative electricity sources because the conventional electricity supply system can no longer be relied upon to provide consistent and predictable power. Solar installations, inverters, generators and private energy arrangements are gradually becoming necessities rather than luxuries.
What began as a response to occasional power interruptions is developing into a structural shift in the way Nigerians access electricity. Citizens are increasingly taking responsibility for providing their own power, just as they have had to provide their own water.
The question is whether Nigeria is witnessing another gradual collapse of public infrastructure.
From Public Provision to Private Survival.
The story of public water supply in Nigeria offers an important lesson. In many cities and towns, government-owned water facilities have either become dysfunctional, operate below capacity or fail to reach significant portions of the population. Consequently, individuals, households and communities have developed alternative arrangements to meet their water needs.
The proliferation of privately owned boreholes, water vendors and packaged water businesses is perhaps the clearest evidence of this transition. Access to clean water, which should ordinarily be supported by functional public infrastructure, has increasingly become dependent on individual purchasing power.
Unfortunately, a similar development is becoming increasingly visible in the electricity sector. Households and businesses that once depended almost entirely on the national grid are now investing in generators, solar panels, inverters and battery storage systems.
the troubling implication is that Nigerians are gradually becoming responsible for financing the infrastructure required to provide essential services that public institutions were originally established to facilitate.
The same pattern is becoming visible in the electricity sector.
A household that cannot depend on the national grid purchases a generator or installs an inverter. A business that must maintain operations invests in solar energy. Hospitals, Schools and other critical institutions make independent power arrangements because interruptions can have serious consequences.
Even small businesses that operate on limited profit margins must now factor electricity generation into their operating costs.
This creates an unfortunate situation in which citizens effectively pay twice: first, through the tariffs and charges associated with public electricity supply, and second, through the purchase, installation, maintenance and operation of alternative power systems.
For many businesses, the cost of generating electricity has become a major component of their operating expenses. These costs are eventually reflected in the prices of goods and services, contributing to inflation and reducing the purchasing power of consumers.
Nigeria’s electricity sector has undergone significant structural reforms, including the privatisation of generation and distribution companies. More recently, constitutional and legislative changes have opened additional opportunities for state participation and electricity markets.
However, privatisation of ownership and the privatisation of responsibility are two different things.
The emergence of private electricity providers should ideally produce greater efficiency, investment, competition and improved service delivery. It should not become an excuse for the gradual withdrawal of effective public oversight or the abandonment of the government’s responsibility to protect consumers and facilitate universal access.
The concern is that electricity supply is increasingly becoming an individual responsibility rather than a dependable public utility.
When citizens must independently finance the infrastructure required to enjoy basic electricity, the consequences extend beyond inconvenience. It raises questions about the social contract between government and the governed.
Government does not necessarily have to own every electricity-generating facility. However, it must create an environment in which electricity is accessible, reliable, affordable and available to all segments of society.
The Growing Divide between Those Who Can Afford Power and Those Who Cannot
One of the most troubling implications of this development is the possibility of a widening energy divide.
Wealthier households and established businesses can invest in solar panels, battery storage, inverters and other alternative systems. They can insulate themselves, to some extent, from the weaknesses of the national grid.
Low-income households, small traders and struggling businesses may not have that opportunity.
For such people, unreliable electricity means reduced productivity, additional expenses, interrupted education, food spoilage and restricted economic opportunities
.
The consequences are even more serious for healthcare facilities, where reliable electricity is essential for medical equipment, refrigeration, laboratory services and emergency care.
A country cannot build an inclusive economy when access to one of its most important productive resources increasingly depends on individual purchasing power.
Electricity should not become a privilege reserved for those who can afford to generate it independently.
Solar Energy: An Opportunity, Not an Excuse for Government Failure.
The growing adoption of renewable energy, particularly solar power, should ordinarily be celebrated.
Nigeria has enormous solar energy potential. With appropriate policies, investment, financing arrangements and technical capacity, distributed renewable energy can help address the country’s electricity challenges.
Mini-grids, embedded generation, independent power projects and household solar installations can complement the national grid and improve electricity access, particularly in underserved communities.
Nevertheless, the growing popularity of solar energy should not be interpreted as evidence that the public electricity system is no longer necessary.
A successful energy transition requires planning, regulation, technical standards, consumer protection and investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Solar energy is part of the solution, but it cannot become a convenient justification for allowing public electricity infrastructure to deteriorate.
The objective should be to build a diversified and resilient electricity system in which the national grid, renewable energy providers, independent power producers and community-based electricity projects complement one another.
The Cost of Government Inaction.
The economic implications of unreliable electricity are enormous.
Manufacturing companies struggle with production costs. Small businesses spend scarce capital on alternative power. Farmers and agro-processors face difficulties preserving produce, operating processing equipment and maintaining cold chains. Educational institutions struggle to provide conducive learning environments, while healthcare facilities must make expensive arrangements to sustain essential services.
For an economy seeking industrialization, employment creation and sustainable development, reliable electricity is not optional.
It is foundational infrastructure.
The government, electricity regulators, distribution companies, generation companies and other stakeholders must therefore recognize that the problem goes beyond the number of hours of electricity supplied each day.
It concerns the quality, predictability, affordability and accessibility of the service.
There must be measurable performance standards, transparent accountability mechanisms, effective consumer protection and sustained investment across the entire electricity value chain.
Where service providers fail to meet their obligations, appropriate regulatory consequences should follow. Equally, electricity companies must operate within a framework that allows reasonable returns on investment while protecting consumers from unfair charges and poor service.
A Wake-Up Call for Nigeria.
The experience of public water supply should serve as a warning.
When public institutions fail to provide essential services over an extended period, citizens gradually develop alternative arrangements. Eventually, these alternatives become normalised, and society begins to accept as inevitable what should have been treated as a governance and development failure.
That is how public water supply lost its place in the everyday expectations of many Nigerians.
Electricity must not follow the same path.
The danger is not simply that Nigerians are buying generators, inverters and solar panels. The deeper concern is that society may gradually accept a situation in which reliable electricity is no longer expected from the public electricity system.
A nation cannot sustainably develop by transferring the cost of essential infrastructure to individual households and businesses.
Private investment and individual initiative are valuable, but they must complement, not replace, a functioning public infrastructure framework.
Conclusion: We Must Not Normalize the Failure of Essential Services.
Public water supply is a reminder of what happens when the deterioration of essential infrastructure is allowed to become normal.
Public electricity supply is now sending similar signals.
Nigeria must not wait until dependence on private electricity becomes so widespread that the restoration of a dependable public electricity system is treated as an unrealistic ambition.
The responsibility of government is not necessarily to provide every unit of electricity directly. It is to ensure that the electricity market works, that infrastructure is developed, that service providers are accountable and that citizens can access reliable and affordable power.
The ultimate measure of electricity sector reform should not be the number of private companies licensed, the number of solar panels installed or the volume of investment announced. It should be the extent to which ordinary Nigerians can access dependable electricity without having to build and finance an entirely separate power system for themselves.
Public electricity supply must not become another public service that Nigerians remember only as something government once provided.
The lesson from public water supply is already clear. We should not have and to learn it all over again with electricity.
PUBLIC ELECTRICITY SUPPLY WILL SOON GO THE WAY OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY- Ndubuisi Anaenugwu
The Quiet Collapse of Essential Public Services and the Growing Burden on Nigerian Citizens.
There was a time when access to public water supply was regarded as a normal expectation of citizenship. Government was expected to provide treated water through public waterworks and distribution networks, while households and businesses depended on these facilities for their daily needs.
While growing up in my hometown of Enugwu-Ukwu, I remember with nostalgia how one Polycarp, who worked with the Water Board in nearby Nimo community, operated the public water supply system, regulating the distribution of water through its scheduled switching on and off.
Like a Reverend Father attending to his congregation, Polycarp discharged his responsibilities with remarkable dedication, discipline and zeal. He delivered this essential public service with a level of commitment, precision and efficiency that ensured considerable satisfaction among the people who depended on the system.
Sadly, the sustained development and expansion of public utilities in Nigeria suffered serious setbacks over the years. Military intervention in Nigeria’s political development contributed to institutional instability, policy discontinuity and the weakening of public-sector accountability. These challenges, compounded by inadequate investment, poor maintenance culture and successive governance failures, undermined the capacity of public institutions to sustain and expand essential infrastructure.
One cannot help but imagine what our communities might look like today if successive governments had consistently invested in expanding public water infrastructure and connecting households across the South-East and other parts of Nigeria. Such an investment was not beyond the country’s capacity. Beyond improving public health and living conditions, it would have created employment opportunities, stimulated local economic activities and generated significant multiplier effects across the economy.
Today, in many Nigerian communities, public water supply has become almost a forgotten concept.
Boreholes, water vendors, private water schemes and packaged water have taken over much of the responsibility that public institutions were established to fulfil. What was once regarded as a basic public service has increasingly become a privately financed necessity.
Unfortunately, electricity supply appears to be following the same trajectory.
The warning signs are increasingly difficult to ignore. Across Nigeria, households, businesses, schools, hospitals and even public institutions are investing in alternative electricity sources because the conventional electricity supply system can no longer be relied upon to provide consistent and predictable power. Solar installations, inverters, generators and private energy arrangements are gradually becoming necessities rather than luxuries.
What began as a response to occasional power interruptions is developing into a structural shift in the way Nigerians access electricity. Citizens are increasingly taking responsibility for providing their own power, just as they have had to provide their own water.
The question is whether Nigeria is witnessing another gradual collapse of public infrastructure.
From Public Provision to Private Survival.
The story of public water supply in Nigeria offers an important lesson. In many cities and towns, government-owned water facilities have either become dysfunctional, operate below capacity or fail to reach significant portions of the population. Consequently, individuals, households and communities have developed alternative arrangements to meet their water needs.
The proliferation of privately owned boreholes, water vendors and packaged water businesses is perhaps the clearest evidence of this transition. Access to clean water, which should ordinarily be supported by functional public infrastructure, has increasingly become dependent on individual purchasing power.
Unfortunately, a similar development is becoming increasingly visible in the electricity sector. Households and businesses that once depended almost entirely on the national grid are now investing in generators, solar panels, inverters and battery storage systems.
the troubling implication is that Nigerians are gradually becoming responsible for financing the infrastructure required to provide essential services that public institutions were originally established to facilitate.
The same pattern is becoming visible in the electricity sector.
A household that cannot depend on the national grid purchases a generator or installs an inverter. A business that must maintain operations invests in solar energy. Hospitals, Schools and other critical institutions make independent power arrangements because interruptions can have serious consequences.
Even small businesses that operate on limited profit margins must now factor electricity generation into their operating costs.
This creates an unfortunate situation in which citizens effectively pay twice: first, through the tariffs and charges associated with public electricity supply, and second, through the purchase, installation, maintenance and operation of alternative power systems.
For many businesses, the cost of generating electricity has become a major component of their operating expenses. These costs are eventually reflected in the prices of goods and services, contributing to inflation and reducing the purchasing power of consumers.
Nigeria’s electricity sector has undergone significant structural reforms, including the privatisation of generation and distribution companies. More recently, constitutional and legislative changes have opened additional opportunities for state participation and electricity markets.
However, privatisation of ownership and the privatisation of responsibility are two different things.
The emergence of private electricity providers should ideally produce greater efficiency, investment, competition and improved service delivery. It should not become an excuse for the gradual withdrawal of effective public oversight or the abandonment of the government’s responsibility to protect consumers and facilitate universal access.
The concern is that electricity supply is increasingly becoming an individual responsibility rather than a dependable public utility.
When citizens must independently finance the infrastructure required to enjoy basic electricity, the consequences extend beyond inconvenience. It raises questions about the social contract between government and the governed.
Government does not necessarily have to own every electricity-generating facility. However, it must create an environment in which electricity is accessible, reliable, affordable and available to all segments of society.
The Growing Divide between Those Who Can Afford Power and Those Who Cannot
One of the most troubling implications of this development is the possibility of a widening energy divide.
Wealthier households and established businesses can invest in solar panels, battery storage, inverters and other alternative systems. They can insulate themselves, to some extent, from the weaknesses of the national grid.
Low-income households, small traders and struggling businesses may not have that opportunity.
For such people, unreliable electricity means reduced productivity, additional expenses, interrupted education, food spoilage and restricted economic opportunities
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The consequences are even more serious for healthcare facilities, where reliable electricity is essential for medical equipment, refrigeration, laboratory services and emergency care.
A country cannot build an inclusive economy when access to one of its most important productive resources increasingly depends on individual purchasing power.
Electricity should not become a privilege reserved for those who can afford to generate it independently.
Solar Energy: An Opportunity, Not an Excuse for Government Failure.
The growing adoption of renewable energy, particularly solar power, should ordinarily be celebrated.
Nigeria has enormous solar energy potential. With appropriate policies, investment, financing arrangements and technical capacity, distributed renewable energy can help address the country’s electricity challenges.
Mini-grids, embedded generation, independent power projects and household solar installations can complement the national grid and improve electricity access, particularly in underserved communities.
Nevertheless, the growing popularity of solar energy should not be interpreted as evidence that the public electricity system is no longer necessary.
A successful energy transition requires planning, regulation, technical standards, consumer protection and investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Solar energy is part of the solution, but it cannot become a convenient justification for allowing public electricity infrastructure to deteriorate.
The objective should be to build a diversified and resilient electricity system in which the national grid, renewable energy providers, independent power producers and community-based electricity projects complement one another.
The Cost of Government Inaction.
The economic implications of unreliable electricity are enormous.
Manufacturing companies struggle with production costs. Small businesses spend scarce capital on alternative power. Farmers and agro-processors face difficulties preserving produce, operating processing equipment and maintaining cold chains. Educational institutions struggle to provide conducive learning environments, while healthcare facilities must make expensive arrangements to sustain essential services.
For an economy seeking industrialization, employment creation and sustainable development, reliable electricity is not optional.
It is foundational infrastructure.
The government, electricity regulators, distribution companies, generation companies and other stakeholders must therefore recognize that the problem goes beyond the number of hours of electricity supplied each day.
It concerns the quality, predictability, affordability and accessibility of the service.
There must be measurable performance standards, transparent accountability mechanisms, effective consumer protection and sustained investment across the entire electricity value chain.
Where service providers fail to meet their obligations, appropriate regulatory consequences should follow. Equally, electricity companies must operate within a framework that allows reasonable returns on investment while protecting consumers from unfair charges and poor service.
A Wake-Up Call for Nigeria.
The experience of public water supply should serve as a warning.
When public institutions fail to provide essential services over an extended period, citizens gradually develop alternative arrangements. Eventually, these alternatives become normalised, and society begins to accept as inevitable what should have been treated as a governance and development failure.
That is how public water supply lost its place in the everyday expectations of many Nigerians.
Electricity must not follow the same path.
The danger is not simply that Nigerians are buying generators, inverters and solar panels. The deeper concern is that society may gradually accept a situation in which reliable electricity is no longer expected from the public electricity system.
A nation cannot sustainably develop by transferring the cost of essential infrastructure to individual households and businesses.
Private investment and individual initiative are valuable, but they must complement, not replace, a functioning public infrastructure framework.
Conclusion: We Must Not Normalize the Failure of Essential Services.
Public water supply is a reminder of what happens when the deterioration of essential infrastructure is allowed to become normal.
Public electricity supply is now sending similar signals.
Nigeria must not wait until dependence on private electricity becomes so widespread that the restoration of a dependable public electricity system is treated as an unrealistic ambition.
The responsibility of government is not necessarily to provide every unit of electricity directly. It is to ensure that the electricity market works, that infrastructure is developed, that service providers are accountable and that citizens can access reliable and affordable power.
The ultimate measure of electricity sector reform should not be the number of private companies licensed, the number of solar panels installed or the volume of investment announced. It should be the extent to which ordinary Nigerians can access dependable electricity without having to build and finance an entirely separate power system for themselves.
Public electricity supply must not become another public service that Nigerians remember only as something government once provided.
The lesson from public water supply is already clear. We should not have and to learn it all over again with electricity.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday swore in 375 judicial officers as members of the Election Petition Tribunals ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning them against political pressure and intimidation.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Body of Benchers Auditorium in Abuja. It coincided with the launch of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual and the opening of a specialised capacity-building workshop for judicial officers.
Addressing the newly inaugurated tribunal members, Kekere-Ekun urged them to uphold judicial independence, resist political interference and administer justice without fear or favour.
“The judicial process is not a continuation of the electoral campaign by other means,” she declared, stressing that election petitions must be decided strictly on the basis of evidence and applicable laws, rather than political pressure, public sentiment or the popularity of candidates.
She warned lawyers, political parties, media organisations and members of the public against unethical practices capable of undermining the judicial process.
The CJN specifically cautioned against the abuse of ex parte applications, filing of multiple suits seeking conflicting court orders, and online campaigns designed to prejudge cases or intimidate judicial officers.
“The public airing of allegations, pronouncements on the merits of pending cases or attempts to prejudge judicial outcomes can create unnecessary tension and undermine public confidence in the administration of justice,” she said.
She also warned judges against compromising fair hearing in their bid to deliver speedy justice.
“The urgency of these matters, however, must never become an excuse for compromising the right of any party to a fair hearing,” Kekere-Ekun said, stressing that statutory and constitutional timelines governing election petitions left no room for trial delays or poor case management.
She also urged judges to prepare for complex digital evidence, including possible AI-generated deepfakes, citing BVAS and IReV as technological tools that support electoral transparency.
The CJN confirmed that the presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections were scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Also speaking at the event, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, disclosed that 375 judicial officers had been nominated to serve on the election tribunals.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said election petition tribunals remained essential to resolving political disputes and maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the early inauguration of the tribunal members as evidence of the judiciary’s preparedness to ensure transparent and effective resolution of post-election disputes.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to produce President Bola Tinubu’s nomination documents for the 1999 Lagos governorship and 2023 presidential elections in the ongoing criminal trial of activist Omoyele Sowore.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar directed Amupitan to appear and testify as a defence witness in the case, which is scheduled to continue on Wednesday, November 11.
The order was contained in a subpoena titled “Subpoena Duces Tecum”, issued in charge number FHC/CR/484/2025 and signed by the presiding judge.
The subpoena specifically requested Tinubu’s INEC Form CF001, including the affidavit relating to lost certificates, which he submitted as a candidate in the 1999 Lagos governorship election.
It also requested the President’s Form CF001 submitted to INEC for the 2023 presidential election.
The order followed a ruling on Monday, November 9, in which the court approved a defence request to subpoena Amupitan and Joe Igbokwe, a former publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, as witnesses.
Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over his social media posts in which he allegedly referred to President Tinubu as a “criminal.”
The court also dismissed Sowore’s separate bid to force the DSS lead counsel to testify as a defence witness.
The case was adjourned until November 11 for the appearance of the subpoenaed defence witnesses.
