What should have been a formal and historic leadership handover at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja turned into an unexpected viral moment when a sudden power outage plunged the hall into darkness.
The incident occurred on Wednesday as former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun officially handed over to his successor, Tunji Disu. President Bola Tinubu had appointed Disu as Acting IGP following Egbetokun’s resignation on Monday, a development previously reported by TAT News.
As senior officers, dignitaries, journalists, and invited guests gathered to witness the handover, the lights abruptly went out, throwing the hall into temporary darkness. Within minutes, video clips of the interruption circulated widely online, triggering a storm of reactions across social media.
For many Nigerians, the outage was a familiar reminder of the country’s ongoing electricity challenges, often humorously referred to as “NEPA taking light,” a throwback to the former National Electric Power Authority. Nigeria experienced multiple national grid collapses last year, a trend that has continued into 2026, fuelling public frustration over erratic power supply.
Amid the chaos, the master of ceremonies emerged as an unlikely star. In a now-viral clip, the MC calmly urged attendees, “Please be careful with the light switches please,” a line quickly turned into memes and online jokes.
Nigerians reacted to the incident with a mix of humor, sarcasm, and sharp critique.
User MaziTundeEdnut (@originalproflle) wrote: “NEPA took light during IG handover, MC lie ontop switch head say ‘Please be careful with the light switches please.’”
Morris Monye (@Morris_Monye) described the scene as symbolic: “This is as Nigeria as it gets. Looks ominous too.”
Nfunaala (@TochiPN) drew comparisons to past presidential blackouts: “If Nepa can take light when Buhari was talking as a sitting president, who is IGP.”
Others criticized the explanation offered by the MC. JezebelReborn (@JezebelReborn) wrote: “No let them keep deceiving themselves ‘we have steady power supply.’ Nigerians will learn the hard way, if they don’t remove this evil party.”
Despite the disruption, Disu, a seasoned officer with extensive experience in the Lagos command, continued his address once electricity was restored. He used the opportunity to outline his vision for the force, emphasizing professionalism, operational efficiency, and public safety.
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