The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the recurring collapse of Nigeria’s national grid, stating that it is a systemic failure that reflects the country’s deeper problems.
In a tweet on Saturday, Mr..Obi noted that the grid collapse, which occurred just 11 days into the new year, is a sign of the government’s inability to address the nation’s energy crisis.
He questioned how a country with abundant resources and fertile land could fail to provide basic necessities like electricity and food for its citizens.
Obi’s comments come on the heels of a report that Nigeria has borrowed over $3.23 billion in the last four years to fix its electricity problems, yet the country still struggles to produce more than 4,500 megawatts of power. This has resulted in widespread hardship and poverty, with many Nigerians resorting to desperate measures to survive.
He said: “I have just read the reports of the collapse of our national grid, just 11 days into the new year.
“Most of last year, we faced recurrent national grid collapses. That occurred about 12 times in the year.
“The untold setback and hardship it brought on households and businesses was immeasurable.
“Further reports showed that Nigeria has borrowed over $3.23 billion in the last four years to fix its electricity problems, and yet the country cannot produce more than about 4,500 megawatts of power for the people.
“Instead of making significant progress, our recurrent occurrences of grid collapse have continued to characterize our power sector.
“One then wonders where all the funds borrowed for the power sector have gone into.
“The lack of sincere commitment by us, the leaders, to the true development of the nation, followed by the widespread corruption eating through every sector of our national existence, has continued to drive retrogression and backwardness in our nation.
“This is a new year, and again, I will appeal to the government to make it a fresh start by building on the lessons of yesteryear to now improve every aspect of the nation, including the power sector, without which households and small businesses will continue to struggle under immeasurable economic burdens.
The former governor of Anambra State emphasized the need for sincere commitment from leaders to address the nation’s problems, rather than just making empty promises. He called for a fresh start in the new year, urging the government to prioritize the development of the nation and its people.