Spokesman disputes Obi's 10,000MW power promise, citing existing capacity

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has challenged Peter Obi's pledge to increase Nigeria's electricity generation and distribution by 10,000 megawatts within four years, arguing it shows a lack of understanding of the country's current power infrastructure. Onanuga stated that Nigeria already possesses an installed generation capacity of approximately 13,500 megawatts.

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What people don’t know, and which unfortunately Peter Obi did not know when he came and said he’s going to generate 10,000 megawatts, is that we already have in Nigeria installed capacity of 13,500 megawatts.

Speaking on Arise Television, Onanuga explained that the primary obstacles to stable electricity supply are not a lack of generation capacity but rather structural constraints. He pointed to inadequate gas supply, significant legacy debts owed to gas suppliers, amounting to trillions of naira, and weaknesses within the national transmission network as the core problems.

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No gas. The players in the sector are owing the gas companies legacy debt of over N4tn, which has become the problem of this administration, and it is trying to clear it.

"What people don’t know, and which unfortunately Peter Obi did not know when he came and said he’s going to generate 10,000 megawatts, is that we already have in Nigeria installed capacity of 13,500 megawatts," Onanuga said. He elaborated that many power plants struggle to operate at full potential due to these gas supply issues and outstanding debts.

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To show that he meant business, the first thing he did when he came to office was sign the Electricity Act, which enables states to generate power, transmit power and distribute power.

Onanuga also referenced President Bola Tinubu's commitment to reforming the power sector, including the signing of the Electricity Act shortly after taking office. This act empowers states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity, fostering greater competition. He claimed that power generation has seen improvement under the current administration compared to the situation in May 2023, though he acknowledged the national grid's infrastructure remains outdated and requires modernization.

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The grid is outdated.