By Habeeb Ibrahim
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Tinubu administration to explain why Nigerians continue to experience unreliable electricity despite government investments and reforms in the power sector.
Atiku argued that settling outstanding debts owed to electricity generation companies and signing new legislation would not address the country’s power crisis without a corresponding improvement in electricity generation and supply.
He made the remarks in a statement issued on Sunday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.
The former vice president was reacting to a defence of President Bola Tinubu’s electricity record by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, which highlighted a N4 trillion bond programme, the installation of more than 1.5 million electricity meters and ongoing transmission projects.
Atiku said Nigerians were more concerned about reliable electricity in their homes and businesses than government announcements and financial arrangements.
“The APC should spare Nigerians the spectacle of celebrating paperwork while homes and businesses remain in darkness,” he said.
He also criticised the electricity tariff structure, arguing that consumers continued to experience poor supply despite paying different rates under the Band A, B, C, D and E classifications.
Atiku specifically questioned the approximately N209.50 per kilowatt-hour charged to some Band A customers before Value Added Tax (VAT), insisting that higher electricity bills should come with corresponding improvements in supply.
He further demanded clarification on the Federal Government’s plan to discontinue electricity subsidies from 2027, asking how the decision would affect households and businesses.
The ADC presidential campaign council spokesman maintained that paying legacy debts owed to power generation companies was different from building new electricity infrastructure.
“Paying old debts is not the same as building new power infrastructure. Bonds cannot be presented as a substitute for power in people’s homes,” he said.
Atiku also pledged to work with state governments and relevant regulators to establish what he described as a fairer and more affordable electricity tariff system.
Meanwhile, the APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, defended Tinubu’s record, insisting that the President remained committed to delivering stable and reliable electricity.
Alake said the administration had taken deliberate steps to address challenges in the sector, including signing the Electricity Act 2023, introducing the Presidential Metering Initiative and establishing a N4 trillion bond programme to settle verified debts owed to electricity generation and gas companies.
He disclosed that the first and second tranches of the bond programme had raised more than N1.2 trillion to settle part of the outstanding liabilities.
The APC campaign council also cited ongoing efforts to upgrade transmission substations, modernise the national grid and expand electricity access through renewable energy projects.
Separately, former Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, said Nigeria required at least 100,000 megawatts of electricity to achieve significant economic growth and compete with emerging economies.
Speaking at the Lagos Country Club Business Forum 3.0 in Ikeja, Lagos, Nnaji said although Nigeria had the capacity to generate about 13,000MW, only between 4,000MW and 5,000MW was available on the national grid.
He blamed the situation partly on inadequate gas supply, poor transmission infrastructure and irregularities surrounding the 2013 privatisation of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
Also speaking on the electricity crisis, Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), promised to generate, transmit and distribute at least 10,000MW if elected president in 2027.
Obi said reliable electricity was essential to industrial development, job creation and economic growth.
The renewed exchange over electricity supply comes ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the power sector emerging as one of the major issues in the political debate.
