The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has vowed to address Nigeria’s electricity crisis if elected president in 2027, promising to generate, transmit and distribute at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity.
Obi made the promise on Thursday at the party’s town hall meeting in Lagos, where he addressed supporters and stakeholders despite the morning attack on the venue by suspected thugs.
Speaking to the crowd at the Classique Event Centre, Obi said electricity would be one of the first emergencies his government would tackle.
“If we are elected, we will declare an immediate state of emergency on security, education and electricity.
“As I promised, we will generate, transmit and distribute at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity, because we want industrial work,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor said he would deliver the 10,000 megawatts within four years of an NDC administration, describing reliable power supply as critical to industrialisation and job creation.
According to him, Nigeria’s power shortfall has continued to cripple businesses, choke industries and stall economic growth.
He compared Nigeria’s situation with that of South Africa to illustrate the severity of the country’s electricity crisis.
“I was in South Africa; they have over 40,000 megawatts of electricity and yet people are complaining they have no power when we have just 4,000 in Nigeria and we’re not complaining. This is the time for us to come out to complain,” Obi said.
He said Nigeria currently generates and distributes a mere 4,000 megawatts of electricity for a population exceeding 200 million.
Obi said reliable power supply was necessary to revive industries, create jobs and stimulate economic activities in the country.