News
Opinion: Is Corruption to Blame for Nigeria’s Rising Energy Prices?
By Joel Popoola
Nigerians are paying more and more as energy bills, and getting less and less for their money.
The National Bureau of Statistics last week reported that inflation has reached an eye-watering 15.9 per cent, driven in part by rising energy costs.
The NBS figures suggest that electricity, gas and fuel costs are now almost 12.5% higher than it was this time last year.
One recent study has suggested that Nigerians are now paying 68% of their monthly income on utilities.
These price rises come against a backdrop of energy shortages described as “incessant”, even leading to protests in places like Oyero, where one community leader has been quoted as saying:
“They only bring electricity occasionally. We pay these bills, yet we barely get electricity for two hours a day.”
A system collapse of the national electricity grid on April 8 was the third in less than a month and the fifth this year, leaving both Abuja, and Lagos, the largest city in all of Africa, without power.
In less than our decade the grid has failed over 200 times. With our energy system so unreliable, many Nigerians and businesses rely instead on diesel-powered generators. But diesel prices too have more than doubled since the start of the year.
The government is to some extent at the mercy of events. A post-COVID-19 surge in energy demand has placed huge pressure on energy systems across the world. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has made things worse.
But that does not change that fact that in 2018, the World Bank approved $486 million to improve Nigeria’s Electricity Transmission Network and infrastructure.
Can anyone claim that this investment has made much difference?
As always, it is hard not to come to the conclusion that a (literally on this occasion) brighter future for Nigeria has been squandered because of corruption.
That is certainly the view of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), who have called for an investigation into government spending on energy.
The Deputy Director of the group, Kolawole Oluwadare, has claimed that N11 trillion ($26bn) intended for investment in our electricity supply has allegedly been squandered by governments since 1999.
Oluwadare has been quoted as saying: “Nigerians have for far too long been denied justice, and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the electricity sector, staying in darkness, but still made to pay crazy electricity bills.
“The staggering amounts of public funds alleged to have been stolen over the years in the electricity sector have had catastrophic effects on the lives of millions of Nigerians, akin to crimes against humanity and the Nigerian people.”
If just a fraction of that N11 trillion had been spent on improving the resilience of our energy network and increasing domestic energy production with an emphasis on renewable sources like solar power.
And even if that figure is inaccurate, it will feel accurate to most Nigerians who have little faith in our democratic institutions. That needs to change.
SERAP has requested publication of the names of companies and contractors paid by government since 1999 to carry out electricity projects across the country. This is exactly the kind of transparency our democracy needs, and digital technology makes it easy to achieve.
The digital democracy campaign I lead is attempting to improve democratic transparency with technology.
One of our projects is a free smartphone app called Rate Your Leader, which puts politicians and the people they elect in direct person-to-person contact. Think of it as being friends on Facebook with your local representative, except that unlike other social media platforms, Rate Your Leader insists both sides can prove they are who they say they are, and makes abusive communication impossible.
Rate Your Leader creates a direct line between electors and elected, helping both sides better understand each other, and collaborate to make our communities better. It encourages politicians to do everything out in the open, and rewards them in the form of positive feedback and ratings from the people they serve, improving their reputation amongst their contacts, friends, peers and neighbours – the people whose opinions they trust the most.
Building trust in the political process has to start person-to-person, and politician to voter. And digital technology can deliver that change at the touch of a button.
Both corruption and energy security must be at the heart of the 2023 presidential election campaign.
Candidates must heed the call of business leader, Tony Elumelu, who has called for energy to be a central plank of election manifestos, stating “Elections are coming – security and resources need to be everyone’s agenda – let’s be vocal for our nation’s priority.”
Voters need to be clear that this is their priority. And leaders need to listen.
Joel Popoola is a Nigerian tech entrepreneur, digital democracy campaigner and creator of the Rate Your Leader mobile app.
By Eric Elezuo
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, has announced the release of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for Private Candidates, 2025–Second Series.
The examination, according to a statement signed by the Ag. Head, Public Affairs, Ms Moyo Adesina was written between Tuesday, November 11 and Wednesday, December 17, 2025 with a total of
SIXTY-NINE THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED AND FOUR (69,604) candidates, in 370) centres across the country.
The statement noted that “Out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, SIXTY-ONE THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND FORTY-THREE (61,943) candidates, representing 94.21 % have their results fully processed and released while THREE THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED AND NINE (3,809) candidates, representing 5.79% have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors traceable to them.”
It further added that “THIRTY-THREE THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-NINE (33,989) candidates representing 51.69% obtained credit and above in a minimum of FIVE (5) subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics) while TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN (27,727) candidates representing 42.17% obtained credit and above in a minimum of FIVE (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The Council said that a total of 1,899 Candidates’ results, representing 2.89 % of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice, and that the cases are being investigated.
The Council therefore, advised candidates to check their results by visiting www.waecdirect.org to ascertain their status before visiting the Digital Certificate platform (www.waec.org) to access the digital copies of their certificates, which have been released along with the results.
The Federal government has filed a three-count charge against a former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over the alleged interception of communications belonging to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Last week, El-Rufai claimed in an interview that he and other unnamed individuals listened to conversations from Ribadu’s phone after it was tapped by a third party. While acknowledging that such interception is technically unlawful, he argued that illegal surveillance was not unusual.
However, the Federal Government, through the Department of State Services (DSS), filed charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the charge sheet obtained by Channels Television on Monday, the government stated that El-Rufai admitted that he and his cohorts allegedly intercepted the NSA’s phone conversations.
The charges:
Count 1
That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did admit during the interview that you and your cohorts unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count 2
That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did state during the interview that you know and relate with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, without reporting the said individual to relevant Security agencies and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count 3
That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, and other still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, with others still at large did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to which you admitted during an interview on 13th February, 2026, on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131 (2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
News
INEC Consults, Seeks Legislative Intervention As Reactions Trail Release of 2027 Election Timetable
The Independent National Electoral Commission has acknowledged public concerns over the timing of the 2027 general elections, which coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting and prayers for Muslims, and said it may seek legislative intervention if necessary.
This was disclosed in a statement by the National Commissioner, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, on Friday.
The commission explained that the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general election was developed in strict compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, and INEC’s own Guidelines and Regulations for the Conduct of Elections, 2022.
The statement highlighted that the Regulations and Guidelines, issued since 2019, prescribe the dates for elections:
Accordingly, INEC fixed Saturday, February 20, 2027 for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and Saturday, March 6, 2027, for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly Elections.
However, the commission acknowledged public concerns regarding the timing of the elections, which coincide with the holy month of Ramadan.
INEC said it is sensitive to such considerations and remains open to adjustments.
“Notwithstanding the foregoing, the commission has taken due notice of concerns expressed by stakeholders regarding the coincidence of the scheduled dates with certain nationally recognised holidays and observances.
“The commission wishes to assure the public that it remains sensitive to all legitimate concerns that may impact electoral participation and the overall conduct of elections.
“In view of these representations, the commission is currently undertaking consultations and may, where necessary, seek appropriate legislative intervention to address the concerns raised, while ensuring that any adjustment remains consistent with constitutional and statutory requirements,” the statement said.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and the credible conduct of the 2027 general elections, promising to keep the public informed of any changes.
The commission had earlier scheduled party primaries between May 22 and June 20, 2026, for the nomination of candidates, alongside the general election dates.
Recall political figures like former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to reconsider the February 20, 2027 date announced for the next general elections.
They expressed concerns that the timing coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, which could affect participation by Muslim voters.
The Punch
