Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential hopeful Peter Obi has declared that it would be impossible to provide every Nigerian with 24-hour electricity within four years, insisting that anyone making such a promise is ignoring the realities of building power infrastructure.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, Obi said constructing power plants and expanding transmission infrastructure require years to complete, making uninterrupted electricity nationwide unattainable within a single four-year term.
“24-hour electricity within 4 years is impossible. If you want to build a power plant, it takes about 4 years. Improving transmission lines also takes years.”
Rather than making what he described as unrealistic promises, the former Anambra State governor pledged to significantly improve the country’s electricity supply by raising generation, transmission and distribution capacity to at least 10,000 megawatts if elected president.
“But within 4 years, we will ensure we can generate, transmit, and distribute not less than 10,000 Megawatts.”
Obi said his administration would pursue embedded power projects by replicating successful private-sector electricity models across the country, pointing to the achievements of Geometric Power in Aba as an example that can boost industrial growth in other regions.
“We will do it through embedded power. Look at what Geometric Power is doing in Aba—we need to replicate that in locations like Kano to drive the industries in Bompai and Sharada.”
The former governor also stressed the need for the Federal Government to settle the trillions of naira owed to electricity generation companies, arguing that restoring investor confidence is crucial to reviving the power sector.
“Today, the government owes generating companies trillions of Naira. We must pay them. Our politics must change; if I don’t deliver what I promise, I will come out and explain to the people what is going wrong.”
Obi, who has repeatedly insisted he would serve only one four-year term if elected, said his focus would be on laying a solid foundation for long-term reforms capable of transforming Nigeria’s electricity sector and the broader economy.
