President Bola Tinubu has promised Nigerians reliable electricity if re-elected in 2027, renewing his commitment to improve power supply three years after warning voters not to give him a second term if he failed to deliver on his 2023 electricity pledge.
Tinubu made the fresh promise on Tuesday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally held at Dutse Township Stadium in Jigawa State.
Speaking at the rally, the President criticised the current privatisation model in Nigeria’s power sector, saying it was not working as expected. He promised that his administration would adopt a different approach to ensure reliable electricity across the country.
“We will provide reliable power, not the whole privatisation that is not working. We will provide you with reliable power in this Nigeria,” Tinubu said.
The President also promised to reduce the cost of living, support nano, small and medium-sized businesses, strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base and create more jobs that would provide Nigerians with sustainable incomes.
He outlined additional plans to support farmers through subsidies and interest-free loans, establish mechanised farming centres across the six geopolitical zones, improve national security and healthcare delivery, and expand economic opportunities in every local government area.
Earlier on Tuesday, Tinubu, alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima and Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, inaugurated several projects in Dutse.
The projects included the Renewed Hope Technical Services Fabrication Centre, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Multipurpose Skills Acquisition Centre and a 3.5-kilometre dualised road.
The President also witnessed the presentation of agricultural equipment, including 400 tractors and 60 combine harvesters, aimed at supporting agricultural production in the state.
Tinubu’s 2023 Electricity Promise
The latest electricity pledge comes after Tinubu made a strong commitment to Nigerians during his 2023 presidential campaign.
At a meeting with business leaders in Lagos before the election, the then APC presidential candidate promised that Nigerians would have electricity by all means necessary and would no longer have to pay estimated electricity bills.
He also challenged Nigerians not to vote for him for a second term if he failed to fulfil the promise, unless he provided adequate reasons for his inability to deliver.
“Whichever way, by all means necessary, you will have electricity, and you will not pay for estimated bills anymore. A promise made will be a promise kept. If I don’t keep the promise and I come for a second term, don’t vote for me, unless I give you adequate reasons why I couldn’t deliver,” he said.
Three years after that commitment, Nigeria continues to face electricity supply challenges, with households and businesses still relying on alternative power sources in many parts of the country.
The APC has pointed to reforms introduced since 2023, including changes to the electricity legal framework, metering initiatives and investments in power infrastructure, as part of efforts to address the country’s electricity challenges. However, the administration’s broader goal of achieving reliable power supply remains a major issue for public scrutiny.
Tinubu’s latest promise in Jigawa has brought his 2023 commitment back into focus as he seeks another presidential mandate in 2027.
