Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has expressed deep concern over the recurring collapse of Nigeria’s national grid under President Bola Tinubu adiminstration.
In a recent statement, he highlighted the alarming frequency of these incidents, noting that the grid has already failed just 11 days into the new year.
Reflecting on the previous year, Obi pointed out that the national grid collapsed approximately 12 times, causing significant setbacks and hardships for households and businesses across the country. He emphasized the immense toll these failures have taken on the nation.
Obi also drew attention to the staggering $3.23 billion borrowed by Nigeria over the past four years to address its electricity issues. Despite this substantial investment, the country still struggles to produce more than 4,500 megawatts of power for its citizens. He questioned the effectiveness of these expenditures, given the persistent grid failures.
The Labour Party candidate attributed the ongoing power sector challenges to a lack of sincere commitment from the nation’s leaders and widespread corruption. He urged the government to use the new year as an opportunity for a fresh start, building on past lessons to improve all aspects of the nation, particularly the power sector. Obi stressed that without reliable electricity, households and small businesses will continue to face severe economic burdens.
In closing, Obi reaffirmed his belief that a new Nigeria remains possible, urging the government to take decisive action to address the power crisis and drive the nation’s development forward.
