- Obi stated that Nigeria’s power sector must be revamped and reformed to herald the productivity that the nation needs to develop and thrive.
The 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has voiced his frustration and exasperation at the inability of the government to provide stable electricity for Nigerians.
He said the incessant collapse of the national grid portrays the nation in an embarrassing and shameful light.
The former Anambra State governor, who was reacting to Tuesday’s national power grid collapse, asserted that the development underscored the leadership failure in Nigeria.
Obi stated that Nigeria’s power sector must be revamped and reformed to herald the productivity that the nation needs to develop and thrive.
In a post on X, the former presidential candidate said the latest power grid collapse is symptomatic of a leadership and government that had failed to prioritize the welfare and economic well-being of the people.
Obi said: “For the umpteenth time, the national grid has collapsed, plunging a huge part of the nation into darkness and exposing the fragility of Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
“This recurring disaster is a national shame and a glaring testament to the failure of leadership and policy implementation at the highest levels.
“How long must Nigerians endure a system that fails to provide one of the critical necessities for a productive society?”
Obi, who stated that energy security and stable power supply was important to the growth of Nigeria’s economy, said Nigeria power generation and distribution was far below what of other African countries with smaller population and economy.
“We all know the immense importance of power supply to the transformation of our economy. Its support to SMEs, which are the engine of job creation and a major contributor to our GDP, is immeasurable.
“Today, we are the fourth largest economy in Africa, having fallen from the number one position due to leadership failure over the years, including the persistent power crisis, which is critical when compared to smaller economies.
“South Africa, which is now the largest economy in Africa with a GDP of about $400 billion and 30% of our population, generates and distributes over 40,000 megawatts of electricity.
“Secondly, Egypt, the second largest economy with a GDP of about $350 billion and half of our population, generates and distributes over 40,000 megawatts.
“Algeria, the third largest economy, with about 300B GDP and 20% of our population, generates and distributes over 50,000 megawatts of electricity.
“Nigeria, with less GDP but with more population than the 3 countries combined, generates and distributes less than 10,000 megawatts, and even that is riddled with frequent collapses and crises of failure.
“This disparity in power generation is a reflection of the deep-rooted governance deficit that continue to hold back our growth and potential.
“It is time for urgent, comprehensive reform. Nigerians deserve a government that prioritizes measurable indices of development.”