The math is brutal. Six hundred million Africans still lack electricity. And labour unions say the AfDB and World Bank's new plan won't fix it.
Nigerian and African labour unions have formally rejected "Mission 300" — the African Development Bank and World Bank-backed electricity initiative — warning it could plunge countries deeper into debt while failing to deliver sustainable power.
The Failure They Point To
The unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, are blunt. The AfDB's New Deal on Energy for Africa launched a decade ago promised 100 per cent urban access and 95 per cent rural access by 2025.
The result? Fifty per cent of sub-Saharan Africans — roughly 600 million people — still lack electricity at the start of 2026.
"A spectacular failure," the unions called it in a joint statement from the AfDB's Annual Meeting in Brazzaville.
Why Mission 300 Will Fail, According to Unions
The unions argue that Mission 300 relies on the same flawed approach: "crowding in" private investment by creating "bankable projects" for private interests. The World Bank and AfDB have pledged $48 billion in concessional financing, but that money comes with strings attached — governments must use it to "de-risk" private company investments.
"The World Bank's own studies estimate the financing gap for sub-Saharan Africa to reach 100 per cent electricity access is between $35 billion and $50 billion annually," the unions noted. "Mission 300 likely faces the same fate as the New Deal."
The Debt Trap Warning
Public utilities are being squeezed. The unions say governments are pushing "100 per cent operational cost recovery" through tariff adjustments and efficiency measures. But that financial stress leaves utilities unable to improve or expand infrastructure.
"The current policy makes public utilities weaker in order to create space for the private sector, but the private sector has yet to show up," the statement reads.
Their fear: any electrification that occurs will impose an intolerable debt burden on governments, as public money subsidises the profits of multinational energy companies based outside Africa.
What Unions Want Instead
The labour groups are calling for a "Reclaim and Restore" approach focused on rebuilding and strengthening public electricity utilities — not relying heavily on private investors.
"We are convinced that Mission 300 will not be able to deliver on its 300 million target by 2030 based on the current set of policies."
For Nigerians following infrastructure development and its impact on business operations, the business process optimization guide offers strategies for managing energy costs, while the business management degree guide explores how large-scale project management affects national development.
The Bottom Line
Six hundred million people are waiting. The unions say the current plan will keep them waiting longer — while adding debt. The AfDB and World Bank disagree. But a decade of failure gives labour groups a powerful argument.
A Bloomberg report on African infrastructure financing noted that private investment in energy projects fell 15 per cent in 2025. The World Bank has not yet responded to the unions' specific allegations.
Reported by The WealthBlueprint News Desk
Comments (0)
No comments yet.