CNN’s Chief International Correspondent and anchor of Amanpour,
a nightly foreign affairs programme on CNN International, Christiane Amanpour,
on Monday night cynically likened a 35-minute blackout at Super Bowl to a
regular feature in Nigeria.
a nightly foreign affairs programme on CNN International, Christiane Amanpour,
on Monday night cynically likened a 35-minute blackout at Super Bowl to a
regular feature in Nigeria.
She, however, said her submission was
the position of Nigerians who had reacted to the development immediately news
of the blackout hit the airwaves by reaching out to the CNN.
the position of Nigerians who had reacted to the development immediately news
of the blackout hit the airwaves by reaching out to the CNN.
As millions of viewers watched
Sunday’s Super Bowl during the third quarter in New Orleans, the United States,
there was a power outage at the Super Dome midway through the game for about 35
minutes. When electricity supply was eventually restored, the Baltimore Ravens
defeated the 49ers.
Sunday’s Super Bowl during the third quarter in New Orleans, the United States,
there was a power outage at the Super Dome midway through the game for about 35
minutes. When electricity supply was eventually restored, the Baltimore Ravens
defeated the 49ers.
But while Americans reportedly waited
35 minutes for the Super Bowl’s lights to come on, Amanpour, on her show,
thought “Nigerians just chuckled,” adding: “They know all too well the problem
of power outages: Nigeria has been plagued by rolling blackouts that last
hours, sometimes even days.”
35 minutes for the Super Bowl’s lights to come on, Amanpour, on her show,
thought “Nigerians just chuckled,” adding: “They know all too well the problem
of power outages: Nigeria has been plagued by rolling blackouts that last
hours, sometimes even days.”
Amanpour who rushed to the social
media to collate views allegedly from Nigerians on the situation presented the
following comments: “Power outage at the Super Bowl on Sunday: Suddenly,
Nigeria doesn’t look as dark anymore,” tweeted one Nigerian.
media to collate views allegedly from Nigerians on the situation presented the
following comments: “Power outage at the Super Bowl on Sunday: Suddenly,
Nigeria doesn’t look as dark anymore,” tweeted one Nigerian.
“If they had the Super Bowl in
Nigeria, the power coming back on would be the real surprise,” another
tweeted.
Nigeria, the power coming back on would be the real surprise,” another
tweeted.
Playing back a few seconds of her
interview with President Goodluck Jonathan a fortnight ago, where Jonathan said
electricity supply was relatively stable in the country, Amanpour claimed an
Open Mic opened in Lagos to sample views contradicted the president’s position.
interview with President Goodluck Jonathan a fortnight ago, where Jonathan said
electricity supply was relatively stable in the country, Amanpour claimed an
Open Mic opened in Lagos to sample views contradicted the president’s position.
Jonathan had told Amanpour: “That is
one area that Nigerians are quite pleased with the government; that commitment
to improve power is working.”
one area that Nigerians are quite pleased with the government; that commitment
to improve power is working.”
But Amanpour said during her
programme that many Nigerian viewers later tweeted messages to express their
continued frustrations about having to rely on back-up generators for power,
hence the Open Mic to ascertain the true situation of things.
programme that many Nigerian viewers later tweeted messages to express their
continued frustrations about having to rely on back-up generators for power,
hence the Open Mic to ascertain the true situation of things.
In the Open Mic series conducted by
CNN after Amanpour’s interview, some people said to be Nigerians, dismissed the
president’s claims and insisted they still relied on generators for
electricity.
CNN after Amanpour’s interview, some people said to be Nigerians, dismissed the
president’s claims and insisted they still relied on generators for
electricity.
“We left a microphone in a public
place and recorded Nigerians expressing their frustrations with their
notoriously unreliable power supply,” Amanpour further noted.
place and recorded Nigerians expressing their frustrations with their
notoriously unreliable power supply,” Amanpour further noted.
But THISDAY checks revealed that
while the level of power stability in the country may be nothing compared to
what obtains even in some neighbouring countries; the present supply of
electricity has shown an improvement on what used to be and so represents a
plus for the Jonathan administration.
while the level of power stability in the country may be nothing compared to
what obtains even in some neighbouring countries; the present supply of
electricity has shown an improvement on what used to be and so represents a
plus for the Jonathan administration.
In Lagos for instance, when THISDAY
sampled opinions, a greater percentage of residents admitted to experiencing
stable power, which now runs for days, adding that even when it goes off, it is
for just a few minutes.
sampled opinions, a greater percentage of residents admitted to experiencing
stable power, which now runs for days, adding that even when it goes off, it is
for just a few minutes.
Asked what they thought about the
views expressed by other Nigerians on CNN, a certain resident of Lagos who
preferred anonymity said: “Maybe they still live in the former Nigeria. The
fact that you don’t like somebody is no justification to deny him his credit.
The present administration has improved on power and I think it should be
acknowledged as such.”
views expressed by other Nigerians on CNN, a certain resident of Lagos who
preferred anonymity said: “Maybe they still live in the former Nigeria. The
fact that you don’t like somebody is no justification to deny him his credit.
The present administration has improved on power and I think it should be
acknowledged as such.”
Indeed, the opinion about the power
situation is a mixed bag of impression. While some acknowledge a marginal
improvement and note that the transformation is in a work-in-progress mode,
others dismiss it.
Here are some comments posted on Amanpour’s website by readers believed to be
Nigerians.
situation is a mixed bag of impression. While some acknowledge a marginal
improvement and note that the transformation is in a work-in-progress mode,
others dismiss it.
Here are some comments posted on Amanpour’s website by readers believed to be
Nigerians.
“Well all I can say is that Rome
wasn’t built in a day. Some parts of Nigeria still experience epileptic power
supply while some don’t. Some parts even don’t see light at all due to the
decay in the grid lines that have hung there for as far back as when Queen
Elizabeth came to Nigeria. I live in Ikeja and power there has really improved,
and it’s an improvement process that is gradually spreading across other parts
of Lagos. I enjoy at
wasn’t built in a day. Some parts of Nigeria still experience epileptic power
supply while some don’t. Some parts even don’t see light at all due to the
decay in the grid lines that have hung there for as far back as when Queen
Elizabeth came to Nigeria. I live in Ikeja and power there has really improved,
and it’s an improvement process that is gradually spreading across other parts
of Lagos. I enjoy at
Another reader wrote that, “On the
issue of power generation. The president is trying and I have my points. I
recently relocated to a new area and I received reports that there has been
stoppage of electricity supply for over a year. I picked up my laptop and
logged on to http://www.power.gov.ng and lodged a complaint through the e-mail,
sms, and also placed a call to the electricity distribution company in the
region. Believe me, the electricity supply was connected and I received a phone
call from the presidential task force on power asking for my feedback
concerning the supply of electricity, which was affirmative. I have helped a
community through the good works of Mr. President.”
issue of power generation. The president is trying and I have my points. I
recently relocated to a new area and I received reports that there has been
stoppage of electricity supply for over a year. I picked up my laptop and
logged on to http://www.power.gov.ng and lodged a complaint through the e-mail,
sms, and also placed a call to the electricity distribution company in the
region. Believe me, the electricity supply was connected and I received a phone
call from the presidential task force on power asking for my feedback
concerning the supply of electricity, which was affirmative. I have helped a
community through the good works of Mr. President.”
But another reader simply identified
as Elijah blurted that, “I was so disappointed with Mr. President’s speech on
Boko Haram, electricity and corruption. Before he came into power, he (Mr.
President) promised Nigerians stable electricity, which Amanpour has testified
to, but for good three years now, nothing has been done. You mentioned some
states in Nigeria that can smile with the condition of electricity like Lagos,
Abuja…
as Elijah blurted that, “I was so disappointed with Mr. President’s speech on
Boko Haram, electricity and corruption. Before he came into power, he (Mr.
President) promised Nigerians stable electricity, which Amanpour has testified
to, but for good three years now, nothing has been done. You mentioned some
states in Nigeria that can smile with the condition of electricity like Lagos,
Abuja…
That’s a big lie, I live in Lagos, I
work on the island, electricity is very poor in these areas.”
Another reader, Trevae Oloye, also wrote:, “I can really appreciate President
Goodluck Jonathan for his honesty about the electricity and crude oil problems
in his country. I was in Nigeria for four months last year up to and after the
oil strike. Nigeria has really tried to make progress since my first trip there
in 1974. So, I pray Goodluck Jonathan is able to see his way through updating
the electricity shortages.”
work on the island, electricity is very poor in these areas.”
Another reader, Trevae Oloye, also wrote:, “I can really appreciate President
Goodluck Jonathan for his honesty about the electricity and crude oil problems
in his country. I was in Nigeria for four months last year up to and after the
oil strike. Nigeria has really tried to make progress since my first trip there
in 1974. So, I pray Goodluck Jonathan is able to see his way through updating
the electricity shortages.”
Source: Thisday
