Nigeria’s electricity crisis now human rights issue – IHRC

The International Human Rights Commission‑Relief Fund Trust (IHRC‑RFT), Nigeria Chapter, has declared that Nigeria’s electricity crisis has escalated beyond a mere inconvenience and must now be regarded as a serious human‑rights concern.

In a statement, the organisation’s Country Director, Ambassador Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu, urged the government to adopt urgent and practical measures to tackle the country’s power sector challenges.

Adamu said that reliable electricity is directly tied to citizens’ well‑being and dignity.

“Nigeria’s electricity crisis has moved beyond inconvenience. It is now a matter of human rights, dignity, and national development,” he stated.

The ambassador explained that global human‑rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, affirm the necessity of basic services that secure a decent standard of living.

He highlighted that sectors such as healthcare, education, and small businesses cannot operate effectively without dependable electricity.

“Hospitals, schools, industries, and small businesses cannot function in darkness. The dignity of citizens cannot depend on generators and fuel scarcity,” he said.

Adamu also expressed concern over reports that the Presidential residence has moved away from the national grid to alternative power sources, questioning what that signals for ordinary Nigerians.

“If the highest office in the land no longer depends on the national grid, what assurance is left for ordinary Nigerians?” he asked.

He further questioned the affordability of alternative energy solutions such as solar power for the average citizen.

“If solar is the solution, how many struggling Nigerians can afford installation? Does this suggest that every citizen must independently provide electricity?” he said.

Adamu emphasized that it remains the government’s responsibility to deliver reliable public infrastructure, including electricity.

“Where then lies the government’s constitutional obligation to provide public infrastructure?” he queried.

While describing the statement as constructive criticism rather than political opposition, he called for transparency and accountability in addressing the power crisis.

“We are calling for a transparent and time‑bound national electricity reform plan and public disclosure of generation and distribution realities,” he said.

He added that access to electricity should be treated as a priority for both development and human rights.

“Nigeria cannot industrialise in darkness. Democracy cannot flourish without accountability. And the people deserve light, not uncertainty,” he added.