Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, says Nigerians are calling him and asking him to “slow down” because their freezers are now freezing too much. For real?
Apparently, the Tinubu government hears voices the rest of Nigeria cannot hear.
It hears Nigerians complaining about too much electricity, while official NERC data showed that in April only about 4,286MW was available for dispatch from 13,625MW of installed grid-connected capacity.
It hears freezers freezing. Nigerians hear generators roaring.
It hears an electricity revolution. Families see electricity bills consuming their incomes.
It hears economic progress. Small businesses see the cost of electricity, petrol and diesel eating away their margins.
And while the Minister celebrates frozen food, diesel has recently crossed ₦2,000 per litre in parts of the country.
Perhaps the government should stop listening to these convenient voices and start listening to the millions of Nigerians struggling with the cost of energy, food, transportation and basic survival.
The real story is not that Nigerians’ freezers are freezing.
What is freezing is the quality of life of Nigerians.
Household incomes are being frozen by inflation. Small businesses are being frozen out by energy costs. Jobs are disappearing as operating costs rise. Families are cutting consumption simply to survive.
Nigeria does not have an electricity problem because the Minister is supplying too much power. The available official numbers tell a considerably less triumphant story.
The government should leave the freezer jokes alone.
Give Nigerians reliable and affordable electricity. Let their freezers freeze. Stop freezing their lives./Paul Ibe is Atiku Abubakar’s media aide
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