The light up Nigeria movement.

I spoke to a close relative in Nigeria just yesterday. She told me she was watching the news. I was surprised. I said, "you have light?" "Nope", she replied. "I am using the generator".
That story defines the Nigerian experience for the past decade, actually, for the past 30 years. Erratic electricity supply. I have been told, by those who feel the pinch - i.e. Nigerians who live in Nigeria - that power supply has become so erratic that it is a surprise when you have electricity for more than 5 hours straight. We won't even get into the social and economic costs of erratic supply of electricity - they are way too many to be enumerated.

Instead, I will focus on a movement that deserves our complete support - as Nigerians in particular and Africans in general. Because trust me - load shedding, its coming to a country near you! If South Africa, basically the most developed country in Africa, can experience it, then I don't think any other country is exempt.

A group of Nigerians have put together a movement to hold our leaders accountable and ask, nay DEMAND for electricity. This is 2009 - people are planning how to go to Mars, and our students still study by candlelight? What kind of useless leadership do we have sef?

The movement has a website and a large and growing facebook group.

Here is the group's founder in his own words:



The musicians are weighing in too:
In addition to Eldee's call for you to join the revolution;



There is also some kind of album/musical collaboration by various artistes in the works. You can listen to some of the music here and here.

Next year, Nigeria will be 50, and our useless showboating leaders will spend our money on a vain, empty, senseless and visionless celebration. Let us make our voices heard. We don't want a purposeless celebration for our 50th. We want electricity. Join the movement - Let us light up Nigeria.