Atiku Movement Challenges Tinubu Over Power Promise, Cites NERC Data

The “Atiku Is For The People” global movement has challenged the Federal Government over claims that Nigerians are enjoying improved electricity supply under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group was reacting to a statement attributed to the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, that Nigerians were asking him to “slow down” because their freezers were freezing too much.

The movement described the remark as inconsistent with electricity-sector data published by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.

According to NERC’s April 2026 Operational Factsheet, Nigeria’s 28 grid-connected power plants recorded a combined Plant Availability Factor of only 31 percent.

Of the country’s 13,625MW installed generation capacity, just 4,286MW was available for dispatch during the period.

The movement said this meant about 9,339MW, representing 69 percent of installed capacity, was unavailable.

NERC also reported average generation of 4,048MWh/h, while only 10 power plants accounted for 81 percent of total electricity generated in April.

The report further showed continued instability on the national grid, with voltage and frequency levels fluctuating outside prescribed ranges.

The movement also cited NERC’s Q1 2026 report, which it said recorded a 9.64 percent decline in electricity generation.

It added that distribution companies reportedly lost N140.6 billion to inefficiencies, while Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection losses rose to 37.44 percent.

According to the group, rising energy costs are also putting pressure on households and businesses, with diesel prices exceeding ₦2,000 per litre and Band A electricity tariffs above ₦225 per kilowatt-hour.

The movement argued that the situation contradicts the impression of abundant and uninterrupted electricity supply.

It said Nigerians should instead be provided with reliable and affordable power that supports households, businesses and industries.

The group also recalled Tinubu’s 2023 campaign promise that Nigerians would have electricity and would no longer pay estimated electricity bills.

Tinubu was quoted as saying: “By all means necessary, you will have electricity, and you will not pay for estimated bills anymore.”

He reportedly added: “A promise made will be a promise kept. If I do not keep the promise and I come for a second term, do not vote for me.”

The Atiku movement said it was calling attention to the promise ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

It said supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, would pursue their demands through democratic means.

The group also outlined proposed measures including decentralising the electricity grid, expanding gas-to-power generation, improving transmission infrastructure and enforcing stronger performance standards for electricity distribution companies.

“Leave freezer jokes alone. Give Nigerians affordable and uninterrupted electricity,” the movement said.

“Let their freezers really freeze, and stop freezing their lives.”