The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he will not make unrealistic promises to Nigerians by claiming he can deliver uninterrupted electricity across the country within a single four-year term if elected president.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday night, the former Anambra State governor said improving Nigeria’s electricity sector would be one of his administration’s top priorities, but insisted that achieving nationwide 24-hour power supply within four years is not feasible.
“I will not tell them I’m going to give them reliable, stable, 24-hour electricity within four years,” Obi said.
He explained that major infrastructure projects such as power plants and transmission networks require years to complete.
“It is impossible because if you want to build a power plant, it will take you about four years to build a power plant. If you want to build and improve our transmission line, it will take you a number of years,” he added.
Obi Targets 10,000 Megawatts
Rather than making what he described as unrealistic promises, Obi said his administration would focus on improving electricity generation, transmission and distribution across the country.
He pledged to ensure Nigeria can consistently generate, transmit and distribute at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity.
According to him, Nigeria’s biggest challenge is not power generation alone but the inability to efficiently transmit and distribute the electricity already being produced.
“We will be able to generate more than 10,000 megawatts. We are doing that today—we are generating more than 10,000—but we are not able to transmit that. I said we will be able to generate more than 10,000, transmit and distribute that,” Obi stated.
Plans for Embedded Power Projects
Obi said his administration would promote embedded power projects by replicating successful decentralised electricity models in different parts of the country.
He cited Geometric Power in Aba as an example that could be expanded to industrial centres such as Bompai and Sharada in Kano State to boost manufacturing and economic activities.
“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,” he said.
Promises Transparent Leadership
The former governor also stressed that rebuilding confidence in the power sector would require the Federal Government to clear outstanding debts owed to electricity generation companies.
“Today, the government owes generating companies trillions of naira. We must pay them,” Obi said.
He added that his administration would focus on honesty and accountability, promising not to make commitments that could not realistically be achieved.
“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,” he said.
Obi maintained that Nigerians deserve transparent leadership built on realistic goals rather than promises that cannot be fulfilled within one presidential term.
Source: Channels Television.
