Kemi Badenoch says Nigeria has never had electricity despite producing oil

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, has once again criticized Nigeria's governance, saying the country's electricity crisis is a direct result of poor public policy. Speaking yesterday, she stated, "Nigeria is an oil-producing country that has never had electricity. It is very easy to have resources under the ground, but stupid public policy means that you can't use them." She also compared policies she opposes in the UK to the approach of past Nigerian military governments, arguing that excessive government control and wealth redistribution lead to economic decline.

Now, I know many Nigerians will be quick to dismiss her because she is a British politician with Nigerian heritage. But let us be honest — has she said anything that is not true? We have been an oil-producing nation for decades, yet our national grid collapses more often than it works. Generators and inverters are considered essential household items, not luxuries. We have turned the inability to provide stable electricity into a business opportunity for those selling fuel and power equipment. The question is not whether Badenoch is right or wrong. The question is why we have accepted this for so long without demanding real change.

Badenoch's words sting because they come from someone who grew up here and left. She saw what we see every day and chose to call it what it is — stupid policy. So before you attack her for being an outsider, ask yourself this: when was the last time your area had light for 24 hours straight? Let us argue this.