Energy poverty and the leadership question in Nigeria: An overview and implication for the future

Abstract

Energy resources remain the key to industrialization of any nation especially when judiciously and effectively harnessed for developmental purposes. More so, energy availability and its proper harnessment is a strong factor in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nigeria and other countries. The place of foresighted leadership in all these cannot be overemphasised. Unfortunately, Nigeria is blessed with natural and human resources but lack the foresighted leadership at federal, state and local levels to convert these resources into blessings for sustainable development. This paper is therefore framed within this backdrop, to examine Nigeria’s energy poverty and leadership question within the light of their futuristic implications if not addressed on time. Nigeria’s current energy crisis/poverty is a symptomatic manifestation of the failure of leadership to honestly addressing the problems facing the power sector.