On Tuesday, Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), expressed his dismay over the recent collapse of Nigeria’s national power grid, labeling it a national shame that highlights significant leadership failures in the country.
Obi called for immediate reforms in Nigeria’s power sector, stating that the latest incident has further exposed the fragile state of the nation’s electricity infrastructure.
In a post on X, he remarked, “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.” He emphasized that this recurring disaster serves as a stark reminder of the government’s failure to prioritize the welfare and economic well-being of its citizens.
Obi posed a poignant question: “How long must Nigerians endure a system that fails to provide one of the critical necessities for a productive society?” He underscored the vital role of electricity supply in transforming the economy, particularly in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are crucial for job creation and significantly contribute to the country’s GDP.
He highlighted Nigeria’s decline from the position of Africa’s largest economy to fourth place, attributing this regression to ongoing leadership failures and the persistent power crisis.
“Today, we are the fourth largest economy in Africa, having fallen from the number one position due to leadership failure over the years,” he stated, comparing Nigeria’s electricity generation to that of other African nations:
South Africa, now the largest economy on the continent, generates and distributes over 40,000 megawatts with a GDP of approximately $400 billion and only 30% of Nigeria’s population.
Egypt, the second-largest economy, also produces over 40,000 megawatts and has a GDP of about $350 billion, with half of Nigeria’s population.
Algeria, the third-largest economy, generates over 50,000 megawatts and has a GDP of about $300 billion, with only 20% of Nigeria’s population.
In stark contrast, Obi pointed out that Nigeria, despite its larger population and lower GDP, generates and distributes less than 10,000 megawatts, with frequent outages and crises.
“This disparity in power generation is a reflection of the deep-rooted governance deficit that continues to hold back our growth and potential,” he concluded, urging for urgent, comprehensive reforms in the power sector. “Nigerians deserve a government that prioritizes.