Kenyan pan-Africanist and human rights advocate, Patrick Lumumba, has criticised Africa’s failure to provide stable electricity across the continent, warning that poor energy supply limits Africa’s economic growth.
Lumumba spoke during the 2025 Independence Day Lecture and Awards Night in Lagos, where he warned that poor energy supply limits Africa’s economic growth.
He expressed frustration with Africa’s inability to sustain constant power, questioning why such a basic need remains elusive.
Lumumba described electricity across Africa as “epileptic,” noting that outages were common in hotels and public places within an hour of arrival.
He also emphasised that Africa could not achieve its industrial and trade ambitions under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area without a consistent energy supply.
The outspoken professor insisted that Nigeria, with its size and resources, must lead Africa’s economic transformation.
“Nigeria should be the leader economically. When Nigeria debates with South Africa or Egypt over size of economies, I laugh,” he said, likening the competition to “a debate between two dwarfs as to which is taller.”
Lumumba believed Nigeria must target a two-trillion-dollar economy, stressing that the country has the capacity to achieve it.
Lumumba urged Nigeria to pioneer continental energy integration through pipelines and infrastructure but warned that endless lamentations hinder progress.
He emphasised the need for reforms in the health sector, economy, and governance to provide a united and prosperous continent.
“We have lamented for too long and agonised for too long. The time has come to act,” Lumumba said.
Lumumba also pressed for visa-free entry across African states, especially within Nigeria, which he described as Africa’s “Mecca.”
He urged Nigeria to revive its national airline, arguing that aviation is critical for continental integration.
“How can Nigeria be a country without an airline? It can be done. Air Peace and Ibom Air show it is possible,” he said.
Lumumba warned that Africa is not at ease, listing ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises in countries such as Sudan, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Go to Sudan, there is war and 3.5 million internally displaced persons. Somalia is not at ease.
”The reality is an island in a sea of sorrow and desperation,” he said, urging leaders to stop endless lamentations.
