Yesterday, Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, voiced his concern over Nigeria’s ongoing electricity crisis, emphasizing the need for strong political determination to address the issue. He cited a recent report about Tanzania’s uninterrupted electricity supply, which led to the closure of some power stations due to excess supply. Obi highlighted the disparity, noting that Nigeria’s current electricity production falls short of meeting the needs of its major cities, let alone rural areas. He contrasted Tanzania’s ability to provide electricity to all its major cities and rural areas with Nigeria’s struggle to supply even 60% of its urban and rural areas. Obi expressed dismay that Nigeria, often referred to as the giant of Africa, lags behind Tanzania in ensuring adequate power supply, exemplified by the inability to fully power major cities like Abuja.
Referring to a World Bank report, Obi highlighted, “The World Bank report illustrates the significant impact of strong political determination and commitment in Tanzania, where electricity access surged from 7% in 2011 to nearly 40% (37.7%) in 2020.” He further stated, “Another report from June 2023 revealed that approximately 70% of Tanzania’s 40 million rural inhabitants now have electricity access, showcasing remarkable sectoral growth. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s situation stands in stark contrast.”
According to a 2022 Energy Progress Report, in Nigeria, over 60% of our population, exceeding 200 million people, live without access to electricity. Obi emphasized, “Considering the immeasurable economic losses resulting from this lack of access to electricity in our nation, compounded by the recent increase in electricity tariffs, one would expect that we could, at the very least, power one major city in each geo-political zone soon and improve overall access both in urban and rural areas.”
He stressed, “The government must, therefore, overhaul and revitalize the sector for the benefit of the nation, with a strong sense of nationalism.” Furthermore, he remarked, “If Tanzania could achieve such significant progress in power generation, then Nigeria can surpass it with competent and dedicated leadership. A stable power sector is indispensable for the transformation journey towards a New Nigeria, to which we remain steadfastly committed.”
