Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate for 2023, has voiced his worries about Nigeria’s struggle to supply sufficient electricity to its people.
He drew attention to Tanzania’s recent closure of five hydroelectric plants due to surplus power.
Obi, through his official X handle, underscored Tanzania’s achievement in electrifying its main cities and extending power access to both urban and rural regions. He juxtaposed this with Nigeria’s ongoing battle to electrify 60% of its population, which exceeds 200 million.
Obi remarked, “I came across a media report yesterday about how Tanzania, our East African counterpart, recently decommissioned five hydroelectric plants to curtail surplus electricity in their national grid. This move was necessitated by their successful electrification of their major cities and rural areas.
“It pains me to see our country, known as the ‘giant of Africa’, struggling to fully power even a single major city like Abuja, while Tanzania has managed to electrify all their major cities.
“A World Bank report attributes Tanzania’s rapid increase in electricity access, from 7% in 2011 to nearly 40% in 2020, to strong political will and commitment. During this period, about 75% of urban residents and 25% of rural areas gained access to electricity.
“Regrettably, a similar report in June 2023 revealed that while 70% of Tanzania’s 40 million rural inhabitants have gained access to electricity, marking significant growth in the sector, Nigeria’s situation remains bleak. In Nigeria, 60% of our over 200 million people lack access to electricity, as per a 2022 Energy Progress Report.”
Obi emphasized the economic repercussions of Nigeria’s electricity access deficit and called on the government to take decisive steps to revamp the power sector. He further stated, “Given the immeasurable economic loss resulting from our nation’s lack of electricity access, and considering the recent electricity tariff hike, it is reasonable to expect that we should be able to fully power at least one major city in each geopolitical zone soon, and enhance our overall access in both urban and rural areas.
“The government must therefore overhaul and salvage the sector for the nation’s benefit. If Tanzania could reach such a milestone in power generation, Nigeria, with competent and committed leadership, can surpass it. A robust power sector is crucial for our journey towards a New Nigeria, a goal to which we remain dedicated.”
