Nigerian Power Minister, Adelabu escapes Tinubu’s sledge hammer amid incessant grid collapses

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has escaped being sacked during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffling on Wednesday.

This comes despite incessant national grid collapses and blackouts for three days in Northern Nigerian states.

Tinubu announced the sack of five ministers, appointed seven new ministers, and reshuffled others on Wednesday.

The ministers shown the exit door included Barr Uju-Ken Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs; Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism; and Prof Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education.

Others are Abdullahi Gwarzo, Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; and Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development.

Meanwhile, Nentawe Yilwatda was appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Muhammadu Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment.

However, against expectations, Adelabu survived Tinubu’s sack despite calls for his removal.

Recently, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria called for Adelabu to be sacked over incessant grid collapses.

Earlier, Nigerian students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students also made a case for Adelabu’s dismissal as Power Minister.

Experts in the power sector also urged Adelabu to be shown the exit door amid policy inconsistencies.

On Monday, the President of Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo, confirmed that some Northern states were plunged into darkness.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, in a statement on Tuesday, confirmed the blackout in Northern states.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reports that its 330kV Ugwaji–Apir Double Circuit transmission lines 1 and 2 tripped due to a fault, resulting in a forced power outage affecting the North East, North West, and parts of North Central,” the statement by the TCN spokesperson said.

In an update on Wednesday, Olubiyo said the blackout had yet to be fixed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria as the region remained without electricity supply.

“Why hasn’t the TCN MD, as a matter of emergency, mobilized men from HQ to assist the Enugu team in sorting the problem that has put many Northern states in darkness for 3 days now?” he said.

This comes after the national grid collapsed at least four times last week, resulting in a nationwide blackout.

In 2024, the grid has collapsed more than eight times.