WE COMPLAINED WHEN THERE WAS NO LIGHT. WHY ARE WE SILENT NOW?— MR VIRGIN CHALLENGES BON, NIGERIANS

By Comrade Oluwaseun Akeju (Mr Virgin) CEO, MR Virgin Online Radio | Founder, Virgin Times Online | Activist | Writer | Broadcaster | Tech Guru

Virgin Times News When Nigerians were spending millions of naira on diesel, running generators day and night and complaining about prolonged power outages, the complaints were loud. The media reported the crisis. Businesses spoke out. Activists demanded answers. Nigerians demanded that government fix the power sector. And rightly so. But now that the country's electricity generation figures are showing measurable improvement, why are we suddenly reluctant to acknowledge it? That is the question being raised by Comrade Oluwaseun Akeju, popularly known as Mr Virgin, following the latest concerns raised by the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) over the difficult operating environment facing radio and television stations. BON has raised concerns over the high cost of diesel and other petroleum products, unreliable public electricity supply, electricity tariffs and the rising cost of importing broadcast equipment. The organisation said some radio and television stations are facing serious operational difficulties. The concerns of broadcasters are legitimate. But the conversation must also acknowledge the improvement recorded in Nigeria's power generation sector in recent months.

'IF WE CRITICISE FAILURE, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE PROGRESS’

Speaking on the development, Akeju said: > “When there was no light, we complained. We criticised the government and demanded accountability. We told the world how businesses were spending huge amounts on diesel just to remain operational. “But now that there has been a noticeable improvement in power supply in many places, why are we suddenly silent?” He stressed that his position was not a call for Nigerians to stop demanding accountability from government. Rather, he said Nigerians should apply the same standard to both failure and progress. > “If government fails, criticise it. If government improves something, acknowledge it. If the situation becomes bad again, criticise it again. That is not propaganda. That is fairness.”

NERC FIGURES SHOW IMPROVEMENT

Recent figures from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission provide important context to the debate. NERC's September 2026 operational figures showed that Nigeria's grid-connected power plants had an average available capacity of 5,038 megawatts, while average hourly generation stood at approximately 4,089MW. The figures showed that about 81 per cent of available generation capacity was utilised during the month. NERC had also reported an average available capacity of 4,758MW in August, with approximately 4,102MW utilised on average. For Akeju, these figures do not mean Nigeria has solved its electricity crisis. They mean something simpler: there has been progress. And progress, he argues, should be reported just as failure is reported.

‘THIS IS NOT ABOUT PRAISING GOVERNMENT BLINDLY’

Akeju said his position should not be interpreted as political support for the Federal Government. “I am not saying government should be praised blindly. I am saying we must be honest with ourselves. “We cannot spend months telling government to fix electricity, and when the figures begin to improve, pretend that nothing has happened.” He said the fact that some Nigerians still experience poor electricity supply does not erase the improvement recorded at the generation level. There is, he noted, an important distinction between improved national generation capacity and the quality of electricity ultimately delivered to individual consumers.

‘‘THIS IS NOT ABOUT PRAISING GOVERNMENT BLINDLY’ A MESSAGE TO NIGERIAN JOURNALISTS

The founder of Virgin Times Online said journalism should not become a competition to determine who can present Nigeria in the worst possible light. > “If we report failure, let us report failure. If there is progress, let us report progress.” > “Our responsibility as journalists and media practitioners is not to make government look good or bad. Our responsibility is to tell Nigerians what is happening.” He said responsible journalism requires the courage to criticise those in power when necessary — but also the courage to acknowledge positive developments when they occur. ‘NIGERIANS HAVE NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE’ Akeju said the improvement in electricity supply has become noticeable in many communities, with some Nigerians spending fewer hours relying on generators than they previously did. “There was a time Nigerians were complaining because there was no light. Today, in some places, people are experiencing electricity for longer periods and using their generators less.” “If Nigerians can notice that difference in their homes and businesses, why shouldn't the media also acknowledge it?” He stressed that the objective should not be to declare victory prematurely, but to encourage the continuation of policies and investments that can deliver even more reliable electricity.

‘WE SHOULD NOT BE ADDICTED TO DARKNESS’

Akeju said Nigeria's power sector still has a long way to go and that government must not become complacent. Stable electricity must eventually translate into reliable supply for homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and industries across the country. But he insisted that Nigerians should not ignore measurable improvement simply because the sector still faces enormous challenges. He concluded: “We complained when the lights went off. We demanded accountability when businesses were spending millions on diesel. We demanded that government do something about the power sector.” “Now that we are seeing improvement, we should have the courage to say so.” “Nigeria should not be so addicted to darkness that we refuse to notice the light when it begins to shine.” Comrade Oluwaseun Akeju (Mr Virgin) is the CEO of MR Virgin Online Radio and Founder of Virgin Times Online, and an activist, writer, broadcaster and technology entrepreneur. Virgin Times News — Stay Informed. Stay Ahead.