Audience Perception of Media Reports on Power Sector Mismanagement in Nigeria

Nigeria's persistent power sector crisis has attracted sustained media attention, yet the extent to which media reports shape public understanding and demand for accountability in the electricity sector remains understudied. This study examined audience perception of media reports on power sector mismanagement in Nigeria. The study was anchored on the Uses and Gratifications Theory developed by Katz, Blumler, and Gurevitch, which posits that audiences actively select and interpret media content based on personal needs and motivations. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with the study population comprising adult media consumers in selected urban areas. A sample of 160 respondents was selected using simple random sampling, and a structured questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument. Findings revealed that the majority of respondents perceive media coverage of Nigeria's power sector mismanagement as episodic rather than thematic, focusing on isolated incidents of corruption and failure without providing sufficient contextual analysis or tracking accountability outcomes. Respondents expressed frustration with the lack of follow-up reporting and demanded more investigative journalism on the subject. The study concluded that while audiences are attentive and critical of power sector media coverage, the current quality of reporting fails to meet their expectations for depth and accountability-driven journalism. It was recommended that media organisations invest in energy sector beat reporting, adopt solutions journalism frameworks, and commit to long-term investigative coverage of governance failures in Nigeria's power sector.

Keywords Audience perception, media reports, power sector, mismanagement, Nigeria