Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has reacted to a pledge by Peter Obi to increase Nigeria’s electricity generation and distribution capacity 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 Nigeria already has an installed electricity generation capacity of about 13,500 megawatts, arguing that the country’s power challenge is not simply a lack of generation capacity.
He said the former Anambra State governor’s proposal did not sufficiently take into account the existing constraints affecting the power sector, including gas shortages, unpaid debts to gas suppliers and an ageing national grid.
“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, we already have in Nigeria installed capacity of 13,500 megawatts,” Onanuga said.
According to the presidential aide, a significant portion of Nigeria’s installed generation capacity cannot be fully utilised because power-generating companies face inadequate gas supply and other operational limitations.
He said operators in the sector owe gas companies legacy debts estimated at more than N4 trillion, adding that the Federal Government is working to address the liabilities.
“What are the problems? No gas. The players in the sector are owing the gas companies legacy debt over N4 trillion, which has become the problem of this administration, and it’s trying to clear it,” he said.
Onanuga also defended the power sector reforms introduced under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that the Electricity Act signed by the President allows states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.
“To show that he meant business, the first thing he did when he came to office, he signed the Electricity Act, which enables states to generate power, to transmit power, to distribute power,” he said.
He added that some states have started taking advantage of the law, while more are expected to do so as the sector becomes more competitive.
The presidential spokesman further said electricity generation had improved since the Tinubu administration took office in May 2023, although he acknowledged that the country’s transmission network remains a major challenge.
“The grid is outdated,” he said.
Onanuga said the Federal Government had begun reforms aimed at modernising key electricity assets, including plans around the proposed Grid Asset Management Company Limited, GAMCO, to improve the performance of hydropower facilities.
His comments followed Obi’s recent promise to add at least 10,000MW to Nigeria’s electricity generation and distribution capacity within four years if elected president in the 2027 general election.
Obi’s pledge has renewed public debate over Nigeria’s electricity crisis, with attention focused on generation capacity, gas supply, transmission infrastructure and the ability of distribution companies to deliver stable power to homes and businesses.