The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over the continued use of fuel-powered generators to operate streetlights, accusing his administration of failing to provide a sustainable electricity solution.

In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, the campaign organisation rejected Makinde’s explanation that inadequate electricity supply was responsible for the reliance on generators, describing the excuse as evidence of leadership failure.

The organisation cited the Electricity Act 2023, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, which allows states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity and address their energy needs.

It said Oyo State subsequently established the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission and assumed regulatory oversight previously handled by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

“Governor Makinde, therefore, has no excuse for his own incompetence and glaring failure,” the campaign organisation said, arguing that Oyo State had the legal and regulatory authority to attract investors, license electricity projects and develop power solutions suited to its needs.

The group also faulted the administration’s 11-megawatt Independent Power Project (IPP), which it said was valued at ₦8.5 billion and awarded to Elektron Energy.

According to the campaign organisation, the project failed to generate electricity and was terminated by the state government late last year after billions of naira had been spent on it.

It challenged the government to explain why the project had failed to provide electricity for critical public infrastructure, including streetlights, the Oyo State Secretariat in Agodi and health facilities, which it said were listed in government materials as beneficiaries.

The organisation contrasted Oyo’s experience with power projects in other states, citing Abia’s reported 188-megawatt output, Akwa Ibom’s 191 megawatts and Ekiti’s 8.6 megawatts.

It also alleged that many diesel-powered streetlights were no longer functioning, leaving major roads dark at night, while the cost of fuelling and replacing generators had become excessive.

The campaign organisation said blaming irregular electricity supply was particularly concerning given Makinde’s background as an electrical engineer.

“The purpose of leadership is to solve problems, not to repeatedly describe them or use them as excuses for failure,” it said.

It argued that, after more than seven years in office, the administration should address power challenges within its regulatory and institutional capacity rather than continue attributing them to external factors.

The group proposed a state electricity strategy combining solar-powered streetlights, embedded generation, renewable energy, independent distribution networks and private-sector investment.

It said such measures would form part of Alli’s proposed agenda if he becomes governor, while accusing the current administration of spending heavily on projects it described as publicity-driven and later providing excuses when they fail. (Guardian)