The Nigerian Presidency asserts that national power generation has advanced under President Bola Tinubu, refuting recent criticisms regarding the nation’s energy output. The administration specifically addressed claims made by Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate, who recently pledged to produce 10,000 megawatts of electricity if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, argued during an appearance on Arise Television that Obi is uninformed regarding the country’s actual infrastructure. According to Onanuga, Nigeria possesses an installed capacity of approximately 13,500 megawatts, surpassing the levels existing before the current administration took office.
The official clarified that the primary impediment to consistent electricity supply is a lack of gas rather than a lack of generation potential. He pointed to significant legacy debts exceeding N4 trillion owed by power sector operators to gas suppliers, a financial burden inherited from previous governments. Onanuga highlighted that President Tinubu has actively sought to decentralize the industry by signing the Electricity Generation Act, which empowers states to manage their own power production and distribution.
