It appears Nigerians are still in the season of government promises, but for how long should citizens wait before getting results?

Development Diaries reports that the latest of such promises is that made by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who recently said that with the Siemens gas deal between Nigeria and Germany, Nigerians will start to experience improved power supply by the first half of 2024.

Speaking on a television programme, Tuggar said, ‘In the coming year, we are almost at the end of this year, so in the coming year, by the first half of next year (2024), God willing, there would be a remarkable improvement in electricity supply in Nigeria’.

This is not the first time Nigerians have been made to listen to low-hanging fruit promises. Citizens still await tangible measures promised to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

Nigeria’s power sector has been grappling with longstanding challenges that have hindered its ability to meet the energy demands of its rapidly growing population.

The country continues to face issues such as insufficient power generation capacity, distribution inefficiencies, and a significant reliance on fossil fuels.

Despite being rich in natural resources, including oil and gas, Nigeria has struggled to translate these assets into a reliable and stable power supply for its citizens.

Hence, this promise by the minister is one that citizens should take seriously and hold the government accountable in due time.

It is disheartening to observe that, in many instances, the government fails to fulfill commitments, leading to an erosion of trust among the citizenry. The fulfillment of promises underscores the principles of accountability and transparency in governance.

Citizens should actively engage in holding the government accountable because accountability is the cornerstone of a healthy and functioning democracy.

A government that is aware of the constant scrutiny from an informed and vigilant citizenry is more likely to act in the public interest, uphold democratic values, and address the needs of its constituents.

Development Diaries calls on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to work towards ensuring that the promise made on the power supply is fulfilled.

We also call on citizens to take note of the timeline given by the minister and demand accountability at the appropriate time.

Photo source: Yusuf Tuggar