Utomi blasts Tinubu over blackout as El Niño threat looms
Prof. Pat Utomi tore into the Tinubu administration Sunday over Nigeria's worsening electricity crisis, warning that millions have endured weeks without reliable power just as the El Niño climate threat bears down on the country. In a post on X, the political economy professor said the government knows Nigeria is among nations El Niño could hit hardest, yet has done nothing to secure power supply for ordinary citizens.
"They know what is coming," Utomi wrote. "Yet millions of citizens have gone weeks without a reliable electricity supply." He called it what happens when leaders detach from people's suffering, adding that a government unable to guarantee electricity amid a looming climate threat owes the country serious explanations.
Nigeria's power grid has collapsed repeatedly this year, leaving homes and businesses in darkness for days at a stretch. With El Niño typically bringing extreme heat and erratic rainfall, the lack of electricity for cooling, water pumping, and food preservation could turn uncomfortable into dangerous—especially for the elderly, infants, and those with health conditions.
The presidency has not responded to Utomi's remarks. Meanwhile, Nigerians brace for another season of heat without fans, generators running on expensive fuel, and a grid that fails when needed most.
What's your plan if the power stays out through the hottest weeks ahead—generator, solar, or just endure?