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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

NRM presidential candidate pledges 25,000MW power in 100 days

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • NRM presidential candidate Esther Okereke pledged to increase Nigeria's power generation to 25,000MW within 100 days if elected.
  • Okereke identified corruption and personal interests as primary obstacles to fixing the power sector.
  • She emphasized her humanitarian work and grassroots experience as qualifications for the presidency, promising to tackle corruption and personal interests in the energy sector.

Esther Okereke, the presidential candidate for the National Rescue Movement, has pledged to boost Nigeria's electricity generation to 25,000MW within her first 100 days in office, making the power crisis her top priority. She argues that reliable electricity is fundamental to addressing other national challenges, including insecurity.

First is to take out the darkness in the system, because when you take out the darkness, you can see. Then you secure the system with security. Fix electricity by taking out the darkness so you can see the security issues and tackle them. In 100 days, we should achieve 25,000 megawatts. It is very possible.

— Esther OkerekeThe NRM presidential candidate outlined her plan to address Nigeria's power crisis.

Speaking on Arise TV, Okereke asserted that Nigeria possesses the necessary professionals to resolve the power sector issues but requires the right mandate and support. "First is to take out the darkness in the system, because when you take out the darkness, you can see. Then you secure the system with security. Fix electricity by taking out the darkness so you can see the security issues and tackle them. In 100 days, we should achieve 25,000 megawatts. It is very possible," she stated.

Okereke identified corruption and vested personal interests as the main impediments to progress in the power sector. She proposed that if a president cannot deliver on promises, they should step down. "What is holding us, stopping us, restraining us, if not personal interest?" she questioned, advocating for renewable energy and decentralized power generation while combating corruption.

What is holding us, stopping us, restraining us, if not personal interest?

— Esther OkerekeThe presidential candidate questioned the reasons behind the failure to fix Nigeria's power sector.

Addressing her qualifications, Okereke, a Nollywood actress and humanitarian, rejected being labeled solely a celebrity candidate. She highlighted her extensive humanitarian work with widows, orphans, and people with disabilities, stating it provided her with firsthand knowledge of grassroots challenges. "I am not just an actress. I am a humanitarian in politics, I would say that," she declared, emphasizing her grassroots connection and the "ESTHER agenda."

I am not just an actress. I am a humanitarian in politics, I would say that.

— Esther OkerekeThe NRM presidential candidate defended her qualifications for the presidency.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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