Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has strongly criticised Nigeria’s power sector following the latest collapse of the national electricity grid, describing the incident as a continuation of a deepening national crisis driven by persistent leadership failure.
In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, Obi lamented that the grid collapse recorded this January marked yet another low point for the country, recalling that similar failures plagued the power sector throughout the previous year.
“In January 2025, we witnessed the first grid collapse of that year, which was followed by several other collapses. Now in January, 2026 the national shame has commenced with yesterday’s collapse,” Obi wrote.
He expressed disappointment that Nigeria has consistently ranked among countries with the poorest access to electricity, noting that for three consecutive years—from 2023 to 2025—the nation was rated the worst globally in terms of electricity access.
“It is utterly disappointing that for three consecutive years—from 2023 to 2025—our nation has been ranked as having the least access to electricity globally, with nearly 100 million citizens left without power,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with other African countries, Obi highlighted what he described as Nigeria’s alarming underperformance despite its population size and economic potential.
“When we compare our situation to other African nations, the disparity is stark. South Africa, with its population of about 64 million, generates and distributes over 40,000 megawatts. Egypt, with about 115 million population, also generates over 40,000 megawatts. Algeria, with around 48 million population, generates and distributes over 50,000 megawatts,” he stated.
According to Obi, Nigeria’s output remains grossly inadequate in contrast.
“Meanwhile, Nigeria, the giant of Africa and its most populous nation with over 240 million people, produces a mere 5,000 megawatts—an absurdly low figure that severely hampers our productivity,” he added.
The former Anambra State governor blamed the crisis squarely on governance failures, stressing that the power sector requires focused, competent leadership to function effectively.
“This power crisis is a direct result of continuous leadership failures. The power sector is critical and requires competent and committed leadership to thrive,” Obi said.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Obi urged Nigerians to place a premium on competence and compassion when choosing their leaders, arguing that meaningful national recovery depends on it.
“As we look towards 2027, Nigeria must prioritise competence and empathy in its leadership. It is time to elect individuals with the capacity and dedication necessary to initiate a significant turnaround for our nation. Anything less is unacceptable,” he declared.
