Peter Obi slams power grid collapse, describes as national shame, failure of leadership

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described the repeated collapse of Nigeria’s national power grid as a “national shame” and a glaring example of failed leadership.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, October 15, Peter Obi criticized the collapse of the power grid, which had occurred twice within 24 hours, and lamented the continuous struggles of Nigerians to access stable electricity.

Obi highlighted that the recurring power grid failures underscore a deep-rooted leadership failure and lack of effective policy implementation at the highest levels of government. He questioned how long Nigerians must continue to endure a broken power sector that hampers the nation’s growth and well-being.

“How long must Nigerians endure a system that fails to provide one of the critical necessities for a productive society?” Obi asked. “We all know the immense importance of power supply to the transformation of our economy, especially for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which are the engine of job creation and a major contributor to our GDP.”

He pointed out that Nigeria, once the largest economy in Africa, has fallen behind due to chronic leadership failures in key sectors, including electricity. Obi drew comparisons with other African nations, underscoring the stark difference in power generation and distribution.

“South Africa, 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. Egypt, the second-largest economy with a GDP of about $350 billion and half of our population, also generates and distributes over 40,000 megawatts. Algeria, the third-largest economy, with a GDP of around $300 billion and just 20% of our population, produces and distributes more than 50,000 megawatts,” Obi noted.

“In contrast, Nigeria, with a larger population than these three countries combined, generates and distributes less than 10,000 megawatts, and even that is plagued by frequent collapses and operational failures,” he added.

Obi attributed the stark disparity in electricity generation to the governance deficit that continues to stifle Nigeria’s economic development. He emphasized the need for urgent and comprehensive reforms in the power sector, insisting that Nigerians deserve a government that prioritizes measurable and impactful development.

“It is time for urgent, comprehensive reform. Nigerians deserve a government that prioritizes measurable indices of development,” Peter Obi stated, reinforcing his call for a leadership that delivers solutions rather than perpetuates crises.

See his post below!

https://x.com/PeterObi/status/1846167778106962017?t=SjxKdRIxISiqnpPUzhCTwQ&s=19