For many years, Nigerians have been groaning under the protracted power failures, with several past administrations paying what is perceived as lip service to the chronic problem. But judging from the results obtained from a recent physical examination and verification exercise carried out by Soft Opinion Poll Group, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Ministry of Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria, appears to be edging the nation closer to the dreamland of a steady power supply
Stories by Williams Smith Bassey, Clement Ebaku, and Lucy Okulugbo in Abuja and Lagos.
At the rate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is accelerating reforms in Nigeria, optimism is high, and there will be a whole lot to cheer by the end of his first tenure in May 2027! Facts on the ground show that the momentum is no fluke; his government is moving at such a breakneck speed that the present generation of Nigerians will have their miracle wish delivered in no time! The cheering news this time comes from the chaotic power sector, which has proved a Gordian knot for decades, thus stalling rapid development. The vexatious nature of the epileptic power supply had put Nigerians on their toes, rendering them helpless; but now, it is true, President Tinubu is taking the bull by the horns! Overnight, focus on the power sector has jumped astronomically; where past administrations had foot-dragged, Tinubu has proven dramatic, matching words with actions! Now, he has hit the jackpot with the recent signing of a major agreement with Siemens Energy to upgrade, install, and commission five powerful substations spread across Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha!
When completed by the fall of 2026, there will be an additional 984 MV to the national grid! Siemens would have delivered 10 units of 132/33KV mobile substations, 3 units of 75/100MVA, 7 units of 60/66 MV transformers, and moved from phase two to three! The addition will improve grid stability and reduce losses! The deal includes Technology transfer and training for Nigerian engineers to ensure long-term sustainability! The agreement with Siemens, which is part of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), is, however, just a tip of the iceberg compared with the spectacular achievements by the officials of the Ministry of Power and the Transmission Company of Nigeria! At the last count, there are 175 ongoing powerful substations upgrading and reinforcement around the country; this is not to mention the rapid overhaul of old and new transmission lines, as well as the introduction of the industrial-grade revolutionary Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition/ Management System known as SCADA to defeat problems from the troublesome national grid! This is the final bus stop for grid management and controls in the country! Moreover, and excitedly too, the levels of maintenance, regular inspection, prompt repairs, and implementation of proactive measures in the electricity infrastructure have escalated in recent times, all in a bid to hit the 25,000 megawatt heights!
These monumental strides and robust achievements would have paled into insignificance without the extreme loyalty and commitment of Minister Adebayo Adelabu and Engr. Abdul-Aziz, the managing director of TCN, and both men have shunned all manner of distractions to ensure President Tinubu’s initiatives come to fruition! Described as workaholics, they are known to work 24/7 to meet deadlines and produce results! This is more of a refreshing news. That is not the only area President Tinubu is blazing the trail in order to yank the nation from the woods; he is spearheading another massive revolution in the pension department, where retirees are about to have their fortune dramatically improved! Unlike before, when retired directors go home with a paltry monthly pittance of 49,000 naira, now, all thanks to Tinubu, they are about to earn double that amount! In addition, a gale of arrears is in the pipeline, already approved by Tinubu, which is now causing healthy ripples of emotion, joy, and jubilation in the retiree’s circle! What is more than to inject a new lease of life where hopelessness abounds! That’s what Tinubu is doing, and now the Soft Group set out to gauge the pulse of the people to determine the extent or otherwise of appreciation based on the progress so far. The result is staggering for all to see!
An Opinion Poll hastily conducted in key cities, Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Kano, and Onitsha, emphatically reveals that 65% of Nigerians approve of Tinubu’s radical reforms. This group of people, comprising both sexes with ages ranging between 30 and 60 years, gave Tinubu a resounding thumbs-up for his determination to reverse the misfortunes of the nation; they see in him the hope of a renaissance amidst the growing frustrations left behind by past administrations. The belief is now so strong that by 2027, the era of Generators would have been drastically reduced, if not wiped out completely. They also hail Tinubu’s attempt to introduce solar-powered energy in Nigerian Universities. While 25% of respondents insist that Tinubu needs more time to concretize his reforms, 5% refused to comment, stressing it is too early, leaving the remaining 5% who did not bother to return their questionnaires. Among those interviewed, a good number approved of the performance of the Minister of Power and the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
The two men at the helm of affairs in the Power Sector received huge commendation for the prudent management of resources at their disposal and prayed for their continued partnership. Similarly, Tinubu is also credited with the ongoing forced change process in the civil service from analog to digital parlance! Tinubu has made it clear that the civil service must evolve, and he is pushing that narrative with all the attention needed! In another massive boost, Agencies that generate no revenue now have their monthly Allocation increased, while the salary, Duty Tour Allowance, aka “allawe”, including “Estacode”, has been reviewed upwards! Tinubu is undeniably proving to be the “showman” that he is! Don’t forget, back in Lagos, his state of origin, they are known as “Eko for show”! And so, it is no surprise he is bringing that attribute to bear in his style of governance, not wanting anything to do with stagnation!
Overall, the poll results show an overwhelming confidence in Tinubu’s modus operandi and the way and manner he is piloting affairs of the country. The poll also returned a verdict of satisfaction in the way Minister Adelabu and Engr. Abdul-Aziz is implementing the reforms in the Power Sector! The Opinion Poll is the latest in the series to test the mood of the people and gauge their satisfaction or otherwise in the way the government is run. This Opinion Poll was conducted using a questionnaire format and a face-to-face strategy, with at least 500 people sampled randomly
