NDC Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has said it would be unrealistic to promise uninterrupted electricity supply across Nigeria within four years, stressing that the country’s power infrastructure cannot be built overnight.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Sunday, July 26, Obi said constructing power plants and upgrading transmission networks require years to complete, making a nationwide 24-hour electricity supply within a single four-year term unattainable.
“24-hour electricity within 4 years is impossible. If you want to build a power plant, it takes about 4 years. Improving transmission lines also takes years.”
Rather than making what he described as unrealistic promises, Obi pledged that his administration would ensure Nigeria can generate, transmit, and distribute at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity within four years.
“But within 4 years, we will ensure we can generate, transmit, and distribute not less than 10,000 Megawatts.”
The former Anambra State governor said this would be achieved through embedded power projects, citing Geometric Power in Aba as a successful model that can be replicated across the country to boost industrial development.
“We will do it through embedded power. Look at what Geometric Power is doing in Aba—we need to replicate that in locations like Kano to drive the industries in Bompai and Sharada.”
Obi also called for the settlement of the trillions of naira owed to electricity generation companies, saying restoring confidence in the sector is essential to attracting investment.
“Today, the government owes generating companies trillions of Naira. We must pay them. Our politics must change; if I don’t deliver what I promise, I will come out and explain to the people what is going wrong.”A
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