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A search through Google reveals that “a cop-out is an informal slang term for dodging responsibility, breaking a promise, or taking the easy way out to avoid something difficult or uncomfortable,” especially if one had pledged to do that same thing.

In December 2022, a presidential candidate named Bola Tinubu told the Nigerian electorate, “If I don’t give you constant electricity for four years, don’t vote for me when I come back for a second term. By all means necessary, you must have electricity, and you must not pay for estimated bills anymore. Don’t vote for me if I don’t give you steady power supply.”

A little less than three months to the January 19, 2027 presidential election that may get him re-elected, President Tinubu is yet to turn the regular electricity supply needle appreciably in favour of the electorate of Nigeria that elected him for the first term that is about to be concluded.

Instead, his government took more than N4.4tn in bonds to settle legacy debts the underperforming Transmission Company of Nigeria (which owns and operates the national power grid) owed to electricity generating companies and gas suppliers.

 

Indeed, the national power grid collapsed at least three times in 2026 alone: on January 23, when electricity generation dropped to zero megawatts; January 27, when it plunged to 39 megawatts; and October 19, when the best efforts generated only 476.70 megawatts.

If it provides any significant relief to the government that failed to live up to its promise, the poor performance of 2026 is better than that of 2025, when the national grid collapsed four times, on February 12, March 7, September 10 and December 29.

In addition to the President’s inability to deliver regular power supply to citizens, some citizens, who do not have what Nigerians refer to as “long leg”, are still paying estimated electricity bills despite the claim by the government that more pre-paid meters have been released into the market.


And, by the way, Nigerians, especially those living in the Band A market segment, are paying through their noses for the 22 hours of electricity promised by former Minister of Power, Adebayo “Penkelemesi” Adelabu, but which neither he nor his successor, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has been able to deliver.

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After he and his principal failed to provide regular electricity for Nigerians, Vice President Kashim Shettima found a cop-out in the Electricity Act 2023 that transferred the regulation, generation, transmission and distribution of electricity from the Federal Exclusive Legislative List of the Nigerian Constitution to its Concurrent Legislative List.

And there is no doubt that the constitutional amendment is a game changer. It may even be the silver bullet that will zing through the thicket of Nigeria’s “bureaucratic corruption” to deliver regular electricity supply to Nigerian citizens.

VP Shettima is urging state governments to take advantage of this “alternative route” by taking the initiative away from the lumbering, or slumbering(?), Federal Government leviathan that apparently has the feet of clay in the matter of meeting a promise that was made, shall one say, in the heat of the moment.

Regular supply of electricity is key to the rapid economic development and industrialization of Nigeria, and it is better to go at it from the bottom-up, as VP Shettima appears to have recognised, and not from top-to-bottom approach that is written all over the old order template that assigned electricity exclusively to the Federal Government.

As much as critics of this government may argue that VP Shettima is admitting failure on behalf of his principal, it is okay to agree that the constitutional amendment has shared responsibility for delivering a stable supply of electricity to Nigerian citizens between the President and the state Governors.

Evidence that this is truly the way out of Nigeria’s darkness is in the albeit modest progress recorded by the government of Abia State in partnership with Prof. Barth Nnaji’s $800m, 188-megawatt Geometric Power Plant, which is a part of the Aba Integrated Power Project.


The Geometric Power Plant is designed to deliver 24-hour electricity, but inconsistent gas supply has caused interruptions in January, June, August and September 2026. Yet is supplies regular electricity to 9 out of the 17 local governments in Abia State.

Abia State’s neighbour, Imo State and the Madkur Group, its Egyptian partner on the Orashi electricity project, are on the way to generate, transmit and distribute the state’s domestic electricity needs hopefully by January 2027.

The efforts of Abia and Imo states should inspire other state governors to establish the electricity infrastructure that will enable their states to have rapid economic development and increase their prospects of significantly raising their internally generated revenue from taxation and tariffs.

Early in 2026, the Lagos State Government too announced a plan to raise electricity supply for the more than 20 million people living in the state from the current 1,000 megawatts to 3,000 megawatts per day, by sourcing electricity from the (epileptic) national grid and a mix of other sources.

These other sources include independent power projects that the government described as energy hubs; power barges, like the Enron power barges whose use was scuttled by the Federal Government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo; energy traders; and others.

Other state governments need to take a cue from Abia and Imo states, and launch their own electricity platforms. But it is important for them to adopt the template that integrates the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, which is currently in silos, under one roof.

The current national structural template, which separates electricity generation, transmission and distribution into three standalones, is not good enough. It makes it impossible to know who to hold responsible for failure to deliver regular electricity to the people.


It might also be a lot better if states within the same geopolitical zones, like the Southwest, for instance, join to form one market and license two or three electricity companies that will provide services throughout the region. This model comes with two advantages.

The first is the large-scale production that covers a market that is bigger than each state, and therefore reduces unit production costs and delivers the service at relatively lower tariffs. The second advantage is that more than one electricity company within a single market will stimulate competition and give customers the ability to make a choice between suppliers.

By the way, no state government can complain that it doesn’t have the money to finance necessary electricity infrastructure nowadays. None. Not after the removal of the petrol subsidy that has pumped so much money into their exchequers. Even state governors openly admit that the removal of the subsidy has made their exchequers very liquid.

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited can no longer claim that it cannot remit money into the Federation Accounts with the excuse that it is diverting its revenues to pay for subsidy on behalf of the Federal Government.

Instead of building airports that only government officials and the jet set can use, state governors should put the excess funds into electricity infrastructure that will form the enabling environment for willing private investors in electricity.

In the cop-out of Vee Pee Shettima lies a pathway to regular electricity delivery.

By Lekan Sote

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As an ordained minister, prayer is an integral part of my life. I pray continually, and my siblings and I have a WhatsApp group where we gather twice a week to spend at least an hour in prayer. I strongly believe in the power of prayer and have witnessed firsthand the tremendous power that comes through heartfelt, persistent supplication.

But, Mr President, with all due respect, Nigeria is bleeding, Nigerians are hurting, and the nation you were elected to lead is crying out for action. Yet, once again, you are heading to Makkah to pray for the country.

Yes, prayer is important. Faith matters. Seeking Allah’s guidance is a personal right that must be respected. But an uncomfortable question remains: Who will fix Nigeria while the President is praying for it?

Nigerians did not elect you merely to pray for the country’s peace, unity, and prosperity. They elected you to pursue these goals through decisive leadership, sound policies, responsible governance, and measurable results.

Mr President, Nigeria elected you to lead, not just to pray

Let us be honest: Nigerians are tired of promises. They are tired of explanations. They are tired of being told to endure while the cost of survival continues to rise. For millions of families, life has become a daily struggle against hunger, unaffordable food, expensive transportation, unemployment, insecurity, and diminishing hope.

Parents are struggling to feed their children. Young graduates are desperately searching for jobs. Small businesses are fighting to stay afloat. Families are watching their incomes lose purchasing power as basic necessities become increasingly unaffordable.

For these Nigerians, the crisis is not merely a headline. It is a meal they cannot afford, rent they cannot pay, medicine they cannot buy, and insecurity they cannot escape.

And in the middle of this national struggle, the President is travelling to pray.

The question is not whether you should pray, Mr President. Pray if you must. Worship as your faith requires. Seek divine wisdom as often as you wish.

But do not confuse praying for Nigeria with governing Nigeria. They are not the same thing.

Nigeria Needs More Than Prayers. It Needs Performance!

A hungry citizen needs affordable food, not another speech about hope.

An unemployed graduate needs meaningful opportunities, not another promise of a brighter future.

A farmer threatened by insecurity needs protection, not merely prayers for peace.

A struggling business owner needs a stable economic environment, not endless explanations about difficult reforms.

And a family crushed by the rising cost of living needs policies that ease its suffering, not assurances that things will eventually get better.

Prayer can give people hope, but governance must give that hope a fighting chance.

You cannot pray unemployment away without creating an environment where businesses can grow, investments can thrive, and jobs can flourish. You cannot pray insecurity away without strengthening security institutions, protecting vulnerable communities, improving intelligence gathering, and holding those responsible for violence accountable.

You cannot pray hunger away without addressing food production, distribution, affordability, and the economic pressures crushing household budgets.

These challenges require sound decisions, competent administration, urgency, and, above all, responsible leadership.

Nigeria needs a President who will not only kneel before God but also stand firmly against the problems confronting the nation.

The Presidency Is Not A Prayer Group

Mr President, the Nigerian presidency is a constitutional office, not a spiritual retreat. It comes with enormous powers, substantial public resources, and equally enormous responsibilities.

You sought the people's mandate. You asked Nigerians to entrust you with the country's future. That mandate carries an obligation to serve every Nigerian, regardless of religion, ethnicity, political affiliation, or social status.

The presidency is not a private pulpit. It is a public trust.

And public trust demands accountability.

When citizens complain about hardship, they are not necessarily attacking your faith. When they question your policies, they are not insulting your religion. When they demand results, they are exercising their democratic rights.

A President must be willing to face uncomfortable questions because the people who elected him are the same people who must live with the consequences of his decisions.

Millions of Nigerians prayed for a better country before the election, and many continue to pray today. But they are also asking when their hopes will begin to translate into improvements in their daily lives.

They want to know when leadership will bring relief, when reforms will deliver tangible benefits, and when government promises will become measurable improvements in their standard of living.

They deserve answers. More importantly, they deserve results.

When You Return, Let Nigerians See The Difference

There is nothing inherently wrong with travelling to Makkah for Umrah. The President, like every other citizen, has the right to practise his religion.

However, the timing and symbolism of a leader's actions matter, especially when citizens are enduring severe economic hardship and persistent insecurity.

A journey intended for spiritual reflection should be accompanied by renewed determination to confront the country's challenges.

When you return, Mr President, Nigerians should see more than a resumption of presidential activities.

They should see stronger action against insecurity. They should see serious efforts to ease the cost of living. They should see policies that expand employment opportunities, improve public services, support businesses, and protect the most vulnerable.

They should see a government willing to listen, correct its mistakes, and treat the suffering of ordinary citizens as an urgent national priority.

Do not return with prayers alone. Return with a clear plan, a renewed sense of urgency, measurable commitments, and the political will to deliver.

Nigerians cannot eat political promises. They cannot pay school fees with presidential speeches. They cannot secure their communities with good intentions.

The country needs results, not rituals offered as a substitute for results.

Mr. President, History Will Ask What You Did

Presidents are not remembered merely for the prayers they offered or the religious journeys they undertook. They are judged by the condition of their countries, the opportunities they created, the institutions they strengthened, and the lives they improved.

Your administration will ultimately be judged by what Nigerians experience under your leadership.

Did families find life more affordable? Did citizens become safer? Did young people gain meaningful opportunities? Did public institutions function better? Did the government restore confidence in the possibility of a better future?

These are the questions that will define your legacy.

You may pray for Nigeria's prosperity, but you must also create the conditions necessary for prosperity. You may pray for peace, but you must also pursue security with determination. You may pray for unity, but you must also govern fairly, uphold justice, and give citizens genuine reasons to believe in the promise of one Nigeria.

Faith can inspire leadership, but it cannot excuse a failure to lead.

Mr President, the people are watching. The hungry are waiting. The unemployed are waiting. Those living in fear are waiting. Struggling families who believed in the promise of democratic leadership are waiting.

They do not expect you to perform miracles. They expect you to perform your duties.

And that is not too much to ask of a President.

The Final Word

Tinubu, go to Makkah if you must. Pray for Nigeria. Seek Allah's guidance. Ask for wisdom, strength, and the courage to make the right decisions.

But when you return, remember the mandate you sought and the millions of people whose lives are affected by your leadership.

Remember the market woman counting every naira. Remember the parent wondering how to feed the family. Remember the graduate searching endlessly for work. Remember the farmer afraid to enter the field. Remember the citizen who wants nothing more than to live safely, earn an honest living, and provide for loved ones.

These Nigerians need more than your prayers. They need the benefits of effective leadership.

Nigeria is not short of people who pray. It is desperately in need of the results that competent, accountable governance should deliver.

Mr President, pray to Allah for wisdom, but use the authority Nigerians entrusted to you to do the work.

Pray for peace, but pursue security. Pray for prosperity, but implement policies that create opportunities. Pray for unity, but govern with fairness and justice. Pray for the people, but ensure that your decisions improve their lives.

At the end of the day, history will not ask only how many prayers you offered for Nigeria. It will ask what you did for Nigerians.

By Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe(EEA), Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has pledged to fast-track oil exploration in the Borno Basin, raising hopes of fresh investment, job creation and economic growth in the state.

The commitment followed a meeting between NNPCL Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, and Governor Babagana Zulum in Maiduguri.

Zulum described Borno as commercially attractive, citing its untapped hydrocarbon potential and strategic location. He also challenged NNPCL over delays in upgrading the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant, which has remained incomplete despite materials being available for nearly two years.

Kida assured the governor that the company would accelerate exploration activities and address the bottlenecks delaying the power project.

 Deep Blue Deploys Drone, Armoured Vehicle to Fight Maritime Crimes

The Deep Blue Project has deployed advanced surveillance technology, including a drone and an armoured vehicle, to strengthen Nigeria's maritime security and combat illegal activities at sea.

The equipment, unveiled by HLS International CEO, Tal Spektor, at the Africa International Defence Exhibition in Lagos, includes a vertical take-off and landing drone capable of daytime and nighttime surveillance.

Spektor said the upgraded system would help authorities track suspicious vessels, monitor cargo movements, combat piracy, illegal fishing and environmental crimes, and protect government revenue.

He disclosed that the project's intelligence platform could provide up to 15 years of vessel movement history, strengthening NIMASA's monitoring and enforcement capabilities.

He reaffirmed HLS International's commitment to supporting Nigeria's maritime security through technology, training and operational assistance.

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CAF U-Turn: AFCON Returns to Two-Year Cycle, Abandons Four-Year Plan

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its controversial plan to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, restoring the tournament’s traditional biennial format in a major policy U-turn.

The decision, unanimously adopted by the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO), effectively scraps the proposed four-year cycle and reaffirms AFCON’s place as a biennial flagship competition on the African football calendar.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the reversal was driven by the need to protect African football, safeguard the financial interests of the continent’s 54 member associations and ensure continued opportunities for African players, particularly those playing for clubs outside the continent.

Motsepe had announced at CAF’s Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde, held from October 7 to 9, 2026, that the governing body would reconsider its earlier decision to move AFCON to a four-year schedule.

The proposed change was linked to plans to introduce an Africa Nations League, which was expected to generate revenue and provide football development opportunities comparable to those of AFCON.

However, concerns emerged that the new competition could take several years to become financially sustainable, potentially leaving CAF and its member associations without the revenue streams needed to support football development across the continent.

Explaining the decision, Motsepe said the priority was to advance and protect the interests of African football and its stakeholders.

“The decision by the CAF EXCO that the CAF AFCON should take place every Two Years was based on advancing, protecting and promoting the interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations, as well as the interest of African players employed by Football Clubs outside Africa,” he said.

Under the revised calendar, the next edition will take place in 2027, jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Subsequent tournaments are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.

The 2030 edition has been dropped to avoid a clash with the FIFA World Cup scheduled for the same year. Motsepe explained that CAF would not organise its senior national team competitions during a World Cup year, in line with the international football calendar.

The CAF president expressed confidence that the 2027 tournament would be a success, describing AFCON as more than a football competition.

According to him, the tournament remains one of Africa’s biggest platforms for showcasing the continent’s cultural diversity, uniting its 54 nations and strengthening connections with the African diaspora and the rest of the world.

The reversal marks a significant shift in CAF's competition strategy and underscores the financial and organisational importance of AFCON to African football.

For now, the biennial tournament is back, ending uncertainty over its future format and reaffirming its position as the centrepiece of African international football.

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