society
Nigeria’s Solar Cooking Scam: Empty Promises or Another National Distraction? (10 Million Solar Cookers, 200 Million Nigerians; Who Is Fooling Who?)
Nigeria’s Solar Cooking Scam: Empty Promises or Another National Distraction? (10 Million Solar Cookers, 200 Million Nigerians; Who Is Fooling Who?)
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Nigeria has never lacked promises; what we lack is delivery. Once again, the Federal Government (FG) has announced yet another lofty pledge; this time, a so-called “Free Solar Cooking Program” that allegedly targets 10 million households across the 36 states of the federation. The idea, on the surface, appears noble: providing free solar cookers to households as part of a clean energy initiative. But when examined with the eyes of reason, logic and Nigeria’s history of failed promises, it smells less like a plan and more like a political joke at the expense of a weary population.
The Numbers Don’t Add Up. Nigeria is a country of over 200 million people, with an estimated 45 million households. If the FG is targeting 10 million, that means only 1 in 5 households will benefit; assuming, of course, that the project ever materializes. History has taught us better: government promises in Nigeria are currency without backing, empty IOUs printed for political optics.
Take for example:
The ₦30,000 minimum wage signed into law in 2019. Till today, over 20 out 36 states have failed to implement it.
In June 2024, the FG promised a new ₦70,000 minimum wage. Two months later, more than half the states have refused to comply.
In 2023, Tinubu’s administration promised stable electricity, yet Nigeria has witnessed some of the worst power outages in a decade. Instead, the presidency spent ₦10 billion installing solar panels at Aso Rock, a personal luxury while the nation groans in darkness.
The government promised massive job creation, but youth unemployment remains above 33% (National Bureau of Statistics, 2024).
With this track record, what confidence should Nigerians have in a solar cooker initiative that sounds like a public relations stunt rather than a serious policy?
The Political Gimmickry of “Solar”. Solar cookers in themselves are not bad ideas. In fact, across Africa, many rural communities benefit from low-cost solar stoves to reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal. It’s an environmental win, reducing deforestation and greenhouse emissions. However, in Nigeria, context matters.
How do you roll out 10 million solar cookers in a country where:
The supply chains for such devices are weak?
Rural poverty is endemic?
Corruption ensures that contracts for such projects are inflated beyond recognition?
Previous government initiatives (from “Operation Feed the Nation” to “TraderMoni”) ended in waste, theft and unaccountability?
The danger is clear: this initiative risks becoming another avenue for looting, where billions are budgeted, a fraction is spent and the rest disappears into the pockets of cronies. Nigerians may never see these “solar cookers,” except during political campaign photo-ops.
Promises Without Performance. The Nigerian political class has mastered the art of governing by press release. Every administration comes armed with SLOGANS, CATCHY HEADLINES and COLORFUL PROMISES, only to abandon them halfway.
As Chinua Achebe once warned: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” Leadership that prioritizes PROPAGANDA over POLICY, PROJECTS over PEOPLE and ANNOUNCEMENTS over ACCOUNTABILITY.
From Jonathan’s Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) to Buhari’s Next Level Agenda and now Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope,” Nigerians have seen hope renewed only in the bellies of politicians, never in their own kitchens. What is a solar cooker to a mother who cannot afford rice? What is renewable energy to a graduate roaming the streets unemployed? What is free cooking equipment to a man who cannot afford garri?
The Economic Burden. Let us be blunt: a solar cooker is not the priority of an average Nigerian household today. Inflation stands at 34% (NBS, July 2025), food inflation at over 40%, fuel prices have tripled since subsidy removal and the naira continues its free fall against the dollar.
Dr. Ayo Teriba, a respected Nigerian economist, recently noted: “The Nigerian economy is bleeding not from lack of projects, but from lack of priorities.” Instead of investing in real economic relief (minimum wage enforcement, agricultural subsidies, job creation) the government is offering solar stoves as consolation prizes.
History of Broken Energy Promises. This solar cooker scheme is also insulting when placed against the backdrop of Nigeria’s energy crisis. For decades, the government has promised stable electricity. Billions of dollars have been poured into power reforms, yet Nigeria generates less than 4,500 MW for over 200 million people, compared to South Africa’s 52,000 MW for 62 million people.
In 2020, Buhari promised 5 million new solar connections for households and businesses under the Solar Naija program. By 2023, less than 10% of that target had been achieved. What became of the billions allocated? Silence. Today, the same script is being replayed, this time with solar cookers. Nigerians have every right to call this what it is: a SCAM in DAYLIGHT.
Expert Opinions and Global Lessons. Globally, successful energy transitions require consistent planning, transparent funding and community buy-in. Ethiopia, for instance, has successfully distributed over 3 million solar lamps through partnerships with NGOs and the private sector. Kenya has become Africa’s leading hub for off-grid solar solutions, powered by strict accountability and international partnerships.
Nigeria, by contrast, treats such projects as political trophies. Professor Pat Utomi once lamented: “In Nigeria, development is not a serious agenda; it is a campaign slogan.” Until that mindset changes, no initiative (whether solar cookers or wind turbines) will bring real change.
What Nigerians Truly Need. Instead of empty promises, Nigerians need basic governance.
Enforce the ₦70,000 minimum wage across all states.
Invest in reliable electricity, not gimmicks.
Create jobs for the 13 million unemployed youths.
Tackle food insecurity, as millions face hunger daily.
Stop corruption that siphons funds from every program.
The IRONY is BITTER: a government that cannot provide fuel for cooking gas, stable electricity for electric stoves or affordable kerosene, now wants Nigerians to believe in a mass solar cooker miracle.
Closing Thought: A Call for Accountability. The solar cooker initiative may sound attractive to foreign donors and environmental lobbyists, to Nigerians, it is yet another mirage in the desert of false promises. Unless backed with transparency, proper funding and measurable outcomes, it will join the long list of Nigeria’s abandoned projects.
As the late Obafemi Awolowo wisely said: “The Nigerian problem is not money, it is how to spend it.” If the FG truly wants to solve the energy crisis, let it start with electricity reform, wage justice and food security not toys disguised as policy.
Until then, Nigerians must keep asking: Who benefits from these promises; the people or the politicians?
STILL ON DELE MOMODU by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
I saw Dele Momodu’s response to my article on him & was amused.
I tried to be polite & restrained in that write up & I didn’t realise that it would hurt him so deeply. Yet for that I offer no apology.
I said he sounded tired & worne in his interview with Seun Okinbaloye but from his response today it is clear that he is now completely unhinged.
He has blown his gasket & his reaction is rooted more in emotion than it is in logic.
Frankly I feel sorry for him because it is clear that he is fighting a lost cause, he is badly diminished & he is now a shadow of his former self.
For Bobby Dee the glory days are certainly over & I suspect that by 2027 when Tinubu emerges victorious he will crawl back into the hole that he originally came from.
Perhaps at that time he will go back to taking pictures of former Governor Nyesom Wike, the Adeleke’s & other prominent figures for a living & shining their shoes.
Playing clips of things that I said about President Tinubu 11 years ago when I was in the then opposition & when I led the media section of President Jonathan’s presidential campaign organisation will not help him to get rid of the stench of faeces that he has immersed himself in today & neither does it derogate from the fact that he was speaking rubbish when he said Tinubu is a dictator.
Unlike others I will never deny what I have said in the past about Tinubu or anyone else but at least I had the decency & courage to admit that I was wrong & ever since I left the then opposition and joined the APC in 2021 I have not looked back.
Not only did I fight for Tinubu in 2023 during the presidential campaign but I have remained loyal & committed to him & his cause since then and I have no apology for that either.
Unlike Dele I did not benefit from him for close to 40 years, eat from his plate, collect handouts from him, stay in his house, claim to be his brother and yet refuse to support him in achieving his dream of becoming President.
Bobby Dee’s nose is so far up the posterior of those he is now slaving for that he forgot to mention the fact that every single one of them, at some point or the other in their sorry lives & career, have not only changed political parties several times over but have also opposed Tinubu bitterly & even more vehemently than I ever did only to go back & later re-align with him.
I do not begrudge them or blame them for that because that is the nature of politics all over the world.
There are no permanent friends or enemies but only permanent interests and in my view it is in the interest of Nigeria that Tinubu continues the reforms that he started in 2023 after he was elected President.
It is also my view that Nigeria must never fall into the hands of the conglomeration of court jesters, sorry clowns & motely crew of insufferable jokers that Dele is now speaking, slaving & fronting for.
I will still be gentle with my old friend because I have a soft spot for him but if he ever crosses the line with me again I will stop being so restrained.
He does not have the stomach for a real fight because he is vain and thin-skinned. He also has an over- inflated opinion of himself and a huge ego.
These are weaknesses in this game and not strengths and as we get closer to the presidential campaign he will learn this the hard way.
Meanwhile he should stay in his lane otherwise I will give him plenty to write about.
For him to compare Tinubu to Abacha was wrong and if he was anything like the dictator that Dele claims he is both Dele and those he speaks for today would either be dead or in jail.
He should count himself lucky that our President is a democrat and not a monster.
Dele’s lies, duplicity & shameless perfidy have finally been exposed & are as obvious & glaring as his very large stomach.
I advise him to do some press ups & go jogging because unlike before I will no longer remain silent as he & his friends throw mud at our President.
Game on!
(FFK)
society
OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture: Sheikh Jamiu Asanbe Urges Muslims to Avoid Showboating in Worship
OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture: Sheikh Jamiu Asanbe Urges Muslims to Avoid Showboating in Worship.
The Chief Imam of Agelete Central Mosque, Ikoyi Lagos, Alhaji Jamiu Asanbe, has urged Muslims to remain sincere in their acts of worship and avoid the temptation of seeking public praise for good deeds.
The respected Islamic scholar gave this admonition while delivering a lecture at the OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture, held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in Lagos.
Speaking on the importance of sincerity in Islam, Sheikh Asanbe cautioned Muslim faithful against what he described as “showboating” — the practice of performing charitable acts or religious duties merely to gain recognition or admiration from others.
According to him, every act of worship in Islam must be done purely for the sake of Almighty Allah.
He explained that while acts such as prayer, fasting, and charity are fundamental pillars of faith, their true value lies in the intention behind them.
The cleric therefore encouraged Muslims to remain genuine in their devotion and avoid mixing their faith with the desire for worldly praise or attention.
Sheikh Asanbe also reminded the faithful that the holy month of Ramadan presents a unique opportunity for spiritual renewal. He urged believers to increase acts of generosity, particularly by supporting the needy, vulnerable members of society, and orphans.
Earlier in her remarks, the Convener of the Ramadan Lecture and CEO of OWUTU FM, Hajia Adejoke Muyibat Balogun, encouraged attendees to use the sacred month as a time for reflection, self-improvement, and community development.
She described the lecture theme as carefully selected to promote spirituality, strengthen faith, and encourage peaceful coexistence within the community.
Balogun expressed appreciation to the numerous guests and supporters who attended the event, noting that their presence reflected the strong bond within the community.
She further reaffirmed OWUTU FM’s commitment to sustaining the annual Ramadan Lecture, praying for Allah’s continued guidance and mercy in the years ahead.
The 2026 edition of the Ramadan Lecture attracted dignitaries and representatives from various organisations including Uzamot Communications, Okutex Fabrics, and the Yeye Asiwaju of Ojota Kingdom.
The event also featured engaging activities such as a quiz competition, where winners were presented with gifts. In the spirit of Ramadan, iftar meals were shared with guests, reinforcing the values of unity, generosity, and compassion that define the holy month.
Through initiatives like this, OWUTU FM continues to play a vital role in promoting faith-based dialogue, community engagement, and social harmony.
Tinubu Abroad, Nigeria in Chaos: The Spectacle of Elite Excess
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
“Government officials queue to bid him farewell as he departs, only to rush ahead and line up again to welcome him at his destination; a stark display of misaligned priorities in Nigerian leadership.”
Wednesday, March18, 2026
In a spectacle that has plunged Nigeria’s political class into fresh ignominy, a long line of federal ministers, governors, senators and political hangers‑on queued outside a London hotel this week to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR upon his arrival in the United Kingdom for a two‑day state visit.
Not only did these government officials send off Mr. Tinubu as he departed Nigeria (a ritual in itself excessive given the scale of pressing national crises) they rushed ahead to London to line the halls of his hotel, applauding and greeting him like conquering heroes arriving on foreign shores. This is how Nigeria’s elites now comport themselves while millions of citizens endure ever‑deepening hardship.
A Travesty of Priorities
Tinubu’s visit to the UK, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, is officially billed as an effort to deepen trade relations, attract investment and strengthen bilateral cooperation between Britain and Africa’s most populous nation. While those diplomatic objectives in theory could benefit Nigeria, the optics of an entire political class fawning over a president abroad are unbearably grim against the backdrop of domestic suffering.
According to recent economic analysis, despite macroeconomic adjustments such as ending fuel subsidies and floating the naira, more than 60% of Nigerians still live in poverty and daily hardships are rampant. Security remains a grave concern with violence and banditry destabilising large swathes of the country. Instead of addressing these crises with urgency, Nigeria’s leadership appears fascinated with photo‑ops overseas.
“A System of Self‑Centred Elites”
Critics within Nigeria have not minced words. Political observers describe the spectacle as a display of self‑centred politics divorced from the realities facing ordinary citizens. One observer on social platforms summed up the broader sentiment: “Tinubu represents a system of self‑centred elites (elite consensus over popular will) and this is exactly the performative politics that lines like these embody.”
Dr. Godfrey Mwakikagile, a respected African scholar on post‑colonial governance, has long warned that bad leadership and lack of accountability are Africa’s greatest challenges. “Power in many African states is too centralised and concentrated in the hands of elites who use it to perpetuate themselves at the expense of the public good,” Mwakikagile recently argued; a critique that resonates all the more when ministers fly abroad not to pursue tangible policy but to line up like admirers.
The Cost of Foreign Pageantry
This isn’t the first time Tinubu’s foreign engagements have attracted scrutiny. His administration’s frequent travels (often with large entourages) have drawn criticism for prioritising optics over outcomes, especially when Nigeria’s economy contracts and its people struggle with food inflation and insecurity.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has been among the most vocal domestic critics of these priorities, noting that Tinubu’s extensive foreign travel (including to the UK) distracts from urgent national needs and has become a “matter of grave concern.” Obi insists that such actions reveal a leadership more interested in global visibility than domestic wellbeing.
Nigeria Jagajaga!
The phrase “Nigeria jagajaga” (loosely translated as Nigeria being in disarray) has never felt more apt. A nation where ministers greet presidents in plush foreign suites while citizens queue for food and services is a country deeply out of balance.
Instead of being welcomed like dignitaries abroad, ministers and governors should be at home addressing the root causes of Nigeria’s struggles: insecurity that displaces communities and kills livelihoods, an economy that leaves the majority impoverished despite reforms, and the persistent failings of governance that erode public trust.
What Nigerians Deserve
President Tinubu and his entourage should be judged not by the number of ministers who lined up to greet him in London, but by the lives changed back in Nigeria.
As scholars like Mwakikagile and critics like Obi remind us, political leadership must be accountable and grounded in service, not spectacle. Nigeria’s leaders owe the people more than applause at international hotels; they owe them safety, economic opportunity, and genuine progress.
If this nation is ever to break free from the cycle of “jagajaga,” then those in power must demonstrate sincerity, not pageantry; action, not admiration. The lines outside a London hotel are not a testament to leadership; they are a testament to where Nigeria’s priorities have tragically come to rest.
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