Peter Obi Unaware of Nigeria’s Stored Electricity Capacity, Says Onanuga

The Presidency has stated that power generation in Nigeria has improved under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, even as it dismissed remarks made by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate about the country’s electricity output.

Obi had pledged to generate 10,000 megawatts if elected president in 2027. The presidency now claims that Obi is unaware of Nigeria’s current stored capacity.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the comments while answering questions on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday.

He said the country now has an installed generation capacity of about 13,500 megawatts, which exceeds the level inherited by the current administration.

Onanuga added that a lack of gas supply remains a major obstacle to optimal power generation, attributing the issue to outstanding debts owed by power sector operators to gas suppliers—a longstanding problem inherited by the Tinubu administration.

The aide emphasized that efforts are underway to address sector challenges and improve electricity supply nationwide.

Onanuga stated: “The first thing Tinubu did when he came to power was to sign the Electricity Generation Act, which enables the state to generate and distribute power. Some of these states are taking advantage of it.”

“Power generation has increased. We are not at the level the president met it.”

“What the people don’t know is that, which Peter Obi didn’t know, when he came and said he’s going to generate 10,000 megawatts, we already have in Nigeria, stored capacity of 13,500 megawatts.”

“The problem we are having is no gas. The players in the sector are owing the gas companies legacy debt of over N4 trillion which has become the problem of this administration.”