Nigeria’s power sector continues to face dire challenges, with frequent system collapses and inadequate supply affecting millions. Mr Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, echoed these concerns in a recent statement, urging urgent action to address the crisis.
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Obi emphasized the stark contrast between Nigeria’s electricity capacity and that of its African counterparts. “It is really sad that whereas our energy demand is above 200,000mws, we have only 13,000mw installed capacity and can only deliver regularly less than 4,000mw,” he lamented.
Identifying the root causes, Obi pinpointed deficiencies in both generation and transmission/distribution sectors. He criticized the government’s failure to address issues such as inadequate gas infrastructure, vandalism, and lack of investment in modern technologies like SCADA.
Obi stressed the need for decisive action, calling for the immediate formation of a technical task force comprising professionals untainted by political considerations. “The problem is that the government has not exercised the required political will to appoint the right kind of leadership that understands the problems of the sector,” he remarked.
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The proposed task force, according to Obi, would diagnose sectoral crises and implement solutions to address issues like fire outbreaks and coordination gaps between transmission companies and distribution networks. He urged a focus on delivering short-term improvements while developing a comprehensive national electricity policy.
“We are too endowed to be a nation of generators and to be trapped in darkness,” Obi asserted, underlining the critical role of power in driving economic growth. His call for a non-political approach to addressing Nigeria’s power challenges aligns with ongoing efforts to overhaul the sector and ensure reliable, affordable electricity for all.
