Peter Obi promises power sector reforms

By Philippine Duru

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Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has said it would be impossible to provide uninterrupted 24-hour electricity across Nigeria within a single four-year presidential term, describing such promises as unrealistic given the country’s deep-rooted infrastructure challenges.

Obi made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on Sunday, July 26, where he outlined his plans for transforming Nigeria’s power sector ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to him, constructing the infrastructure needed to deliver stable electricity nationwide requires years of investment in power generation, transmission and distribution networks, making it impractical to guarantee 24-hour electricity within a four-year administration.

He explained that building a new power plant alone could take about four years, while expanding and modernising the national transmission network would require additional time. For that reason, he said he would rather make achievable commitments than offer promises he believes cannot be fulfilled.

Despite his assessment, Obi pledged that his administration would significantly improve electricity supply by ensuring Nigeria could generate, transmit and distribute at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity within four years.

He said this target would be achieved through embedded power projects and by encouraging decentralized electricity generation, citing the Geometric Power project in Aba as a model that could be replicated in major industrial centres across the country, including Kano’s Bompai and Sharada industrial clusters.

Obi also called for urgent financial reforms in the electricity industry, arguing that the Federal Government must settle outstanding debts owed to electricity generation companies (GenCos) to restore investor confidence and improve liquidity across the sector.

He maintained that a financially viable electricity market would attract greater private investment, leading to improved power generation and better service delivery over time.

The former governor reiterated his commitment to transparency in government, saying leaders should be honest with citizens about what is realistically achievable rather than making campaign promises that cannot be delivered.

Nigeria’s electricity sector has continued to face persistent challenges, including inadequate generation capacity, weak transmission infrastructure, liquidity constraints, gas supply issues and distribution bottlenecks. The country still generates far below the level required to meet the needs of its population and economy, leaving millions of households and businesses dependent on diesel and petrol generators.

Obi’s comments have sparked debate among political observers and energy stakeholders, with some praising his candid assessment of the country’s electricity challenges while others insist that stronger political will and accelerated reforms could deliver faster improvements.

His remarks come as political parties begin to articulate their policy agendas ahead of the 2027 elections, with reliable electricity expected to remain one of the defining issues for voters and a critical factor in Nigeria’s economic growth and industrial development.