Onanuga Slams Obi’s 10,000MW Power Promise

The special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticized the recent pledge by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, to increase Nigeria’s electricity generation and distribution by at least 10,000 megawatts within four years if elected president in 2027.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, Onanuga said Obi’s promise reflected a poor understanding of the country’s existing power infrastructure, noting that Nigeria already has an installed generation capacity of about 13,500 megawatts.

According to him, the major challenge facing the power sector is not generation capacity but structural constraints, including inadequate gas supply, legacy debts owed to gas suppliers, and weaknesses in the national transmission network.

“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 explained that several power plants are unable to operate optimally due to gas supply challenges and outstanding debts running into trillions of naira.

“What are the problems? No gas. The players in the sector owe the gas companies legacy debt of over N4 trillion, which has become the problem of this administration, and it is trying to clear it,” he added.

The presidential spokesman said President Bola Tinubu demonstrated commitment to reforming the power sector shortly after assuming office by signing the Electricity Act, which grants states greater powers to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity.

“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,” he said.

Onanuga noted that some states had already begun taking advantage of the new framework, while others were expected to follow, making the electricity sector more competitive.

He further claimed that power generation had improved under the current administration compared to the level inherited in May 2023.

According to him, the national grid remains another major obstacle to stable electricity supply, describing the transmission infrastructure as outdated.

“The grid is outdated,” he said.

Onanuga added that the Federal Government had initiated reforms aimed at modernizing critical assets in the sector, including the proposed Grid Asset Management Company Limited.

“You know I said we have 13,500 megawatts installed; some of them are not really functioning,” he stated.