Social media has been buzzing as Nigerians react to the protests in Gambia over a 48-hour power outage, comparing it to their own long-standing struggles with electricit.
Demonstrators chanted against President Adama Barrow, targeted NAWEC utility offices, and faced police response with tear gas; authorities banned unpermitted gatherings after vandalism hit a police post and branches.
Gambia’s president, Barrow called it a national emergency, promising generators and a solar plant by October’s end.
Nigerians online contrasted their own decades-long outages in places like Borno and Zamfara, questioning why similar hardships there rarely spark such visible outrage.
Click the link to watch the video.
Here are some of the reactions:
Maxvayshia (maxvayshia): Ladies and Gentlemen, they didn’t say New Zealand or Canada o. GAMBIA! Just 48hrs of blackout. But in a certain Giant of Africa, you hear things like: “Live within your means” “Buy Solar” “Small Gen” “It was there during PDP. It isn’t new”
Iconuzor (icons_clozet): My biggest fear for Nigeria is no longer how bad things are. It is that the Nigerians who have never known anything better are becoming the majority. They have no memory of what functional looks like. No reference point for what they should expect. And you cannot demand a standard you don’t even know exists.
Asher-Wo (David__Asher): Fellow african country that we are richer than by far is protesting about 48 hours blackout whilst in nigeria, it’s just another friday we’re in hell.
Onye Nkuzi (cchukudebelu): Nigeria could never. A major reason why we are where we are, is we have infinite tolerance for bad governance.
Ossy Vincent (ossynoya): Nigerians ooo, we’ve really been defeated by our politicians like mad
Kachii (badasskachii): Wait o. Niggas wey Dey well travelled, Gambia develop pass 9ja? Because if dem Dey move like this because of 48hrs blackout, we too Dey comfortable for here o. Too relaxed too chill.
Ake_De_Cryptocian (HWen…): So automatically Gambia is way civilised than Nigeria ! Obviously , now I know that Nigeria is a nation that chase hype not achievement! We find solution but can’t create it ! We have the resources in abundance but can’t utilised it ! Sometime ago , someone argued that Nigeria doesn’t have the resources it takes to be like America or Germany , I mocked him because he had a weak understanding about nation’s development ! Every nation on Earth is blessed ! Natural resources does not determined the greatness of a nation , but mentality , commitment and discipline does ! Many great and industrious nations in the world like Japan can’t even boast about their natural resources in form of minerals and other valuable rare products , but their resources lives within them ! Their creativity, intellect and brilliance is the natural resources And with that , they use it well to develop their nation !
Olu Ibadan (ChatOlumi…): In Nigeria, a clueless leader assumed office and petrol went from less than 200 Naira per ltr to over 1K and nothing happened. Like I used to say, Nigeria politicians are the luckiest people on earth. If not, tell me why they treat us the way they do and we can’t do nothing. Instead they make mockery of us and asked us to sell Akara and Kulikuli while they loot the money that belongs to us all. In deed, we are not ready for any liberation or revolution that will put this country on the right path.
Abiodun (HMojeed54706): Something wey be normal thing for here
SIRE DAVID WILLIAMS (SIR…): This name oOoOo , ordinary two days power outage…Abeg Come Nigeria…this one burst my bubbles…
Olu Ibadan (ChatOlumi…): The Nigerians left the WhatsApp group. Once few of us can afford solar, petrol for gen the rest is solved. We aren’t ready for liberation. I keep saying it. In fact, we are far from revolution that will bring liberation and set this country on the right path. Until then, let our clueless leaders keep making mockery of us and triple our pain and suffering.
CaptainOla (b1nshe1kh787): Nawa for this life seff. During military styled like democracy era, there was nothing like this. But during “TRUE DEMOCRACY” look at what my lovely Gambia is going thru.
NDC news (milipunching): Hahahahaha,, wetin we wan con talk??? Abeg make they buy power bank!
oluwatobi (oluwvtobi): Our everyday is what they are rioting about…. Our own for this country don spoil… #TinubuMustGo
TheGistTake (thegisttake): Citizens wey no their rights! Good one. Here, Nigerians are used to darkness and it’s become so normal
DONCARLOS CLINTON (DO…): only 48 hours you are protesting? Try enter Nigeria some people have not seen electricity generated through national grid for their entire life.
ifyoulikegym (Jerrybiafra1): Extend the protest to Nigeria please we were promised electricity yet we have been abandoned in the dark
the angel (youdontkno…): Ordinary 2 days the outrage has turned animalistically violent… Nigerians over the world and back home I raise hand for una …. We have patience and a desire to succeed regardless of the environment we find ourselves. 2 days na normal lightout period for some parts of benin.
Love (Love_Daboy): Omo our government are fucking lucky to have us.
Bone Love (Kislam017): By now that gutter man, tollgate man, the 50 years house boy and the jobless cv merchant would have been spinning webs telling the protesters to go to their states and protest. Fence sitters will say that they understood but that the protesters went about it wrongly. Nigeria!
Emmy Tee (Emmytee_1…): E get one area for my side dem go straight one year without light
De JOKER (DeJoker001): Ordinary Gambia here? We are used to suffering in Nigeria, we spend
stache X (ElStachioo): It’s crazy. I’m told someone I used to buy a bag of water for 20-25 Naira, just 12-13 years ago. He genuinely thought I was lying. I didn’t even bother arguing. I just felt sad for him. We keep failing generation after generation, leaving the newer ones to inherit dysfunction they mistake for normalcy because they’ve never experienced anything else.
Iconuzor (icons_closet): My biggest fear for Nigeria is no longer how bad things are. It is that the Nigerians who have never known anything better are becoming the …
Basil (basilabia): Fortunately in social science, the decision-making loci for every society or civilization that has ever existed has always been a minority, even supposedly large politburos for socialist and quasi-socialist states. A minuscule critical-mass can get the job done; they always have