NANS vote of no confidence Bayo Adelabu over persistent electricity crisis affecting campuses across South-West Nigeria

The South-West zone of the National Association of Nigerian Students has passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Power under Bayo Adelabu, citing the persistent electricity crisis affecting campuses across the region.

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In a statement issued on Monday, the Coordinator of the student body’s South-West Zone D, Adeyemo Josiah, said students had endured months of prolonged darkness that had disrupted academic activities, research and online learning in tertiary institutions across the six states of the region.

“For several months, students across campuses in the six Southwestern states have endured prolonged darkness, a situation that has become particularly painful during critical academic periods such as examinations,” Josiah said.

He explained that student hostels, libraries and study centres had remained without electricity for extended periods, making it difficult for students to study effectively or complete academic assignments.

According to the association, the power outages have created widespread frustration and anxiety among students who rely heavily on electricity for research, digital learning and everyday academic work.

Beyond academic disruption, the group also raised concerns about security risks on campuses, warning that the blackout has created opportunities for criminal activities.

“Darkness often creates opportunities for criminal activities such as theft and armed robbery, putting the lives and properties of students at risk,” the statement said.

The student body questioned the leadership and direction of the power ministry since Adelabu’s appointment by Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria.

According to the association, the expectation was that the minister would aggressively tackle Nigeria’s long-standing electricity challenges, but students claim the situation has worsened.

Josiah also raised concerns about political discussions suggesting an early focus on future ambitions, saying such speculation has led students to question whether the ministry is receiving the level of commitment required to resolve the country’s energy crisis.

“Electricity is not just a convenience; it is a necessity for safety, productivity and academic excellence,” he added.

The association called on the Federal Government to urgently review the performance of the ministry and take decisive steps to restore stable electricity supply nationwide.

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According to NANS, students across South-West Nigeria deserve a system that supports learning, guarantees safety and allows educational institutions to function without constant disruption caused by unreliable power supply.