Nigeria’s Electricity Output Must Triple, Obi Declares In Campaign Promise
Obi Pledges Power Sector Expansion, Targets 10,000MW Electricity Output in Four Years
Campaign Promise Anchored on Energy Reform Agenda
PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to significantly expand Nigeria’s electricity generation and distribution capacity if elected president in 2027.
Obi made the commitment on Saturday in Abuja after emerging as the party’s sole presidential candidate at its national convention, where delegates formally ratified his candidacy.
The former Anambra State governor said his administration would prioritise power sector reform as a foundation for economic recovery and industrial growth.
Nigeria’s Power Deficit Described as Structural Challenge
Obi criticised Nigeria’s current electricity generation level, describing it as grossly inadequate for a country with over 200 million people.
He noted that the country currently generates and distributes about 4,000 megawatts of electricity, a figure he said falls far below national demand and global benchmarks.
According to him, about 100 million Nigerians still lack access to electricity, making energy poverty one of the country’s most pressing developmental challenges.
Benchmarking Against Other African Economies
Obi compared Nigeria’s power output with other major African economies, arguing that countries such as South Africa and Egypt generate more than 40,000 megawatts each.
He said Nigeria’s low generation capacity—less than 10 per cent of those figures—reflects years of underinvestment and policy inefficiency in the sector.
10,000MW Target and Reform Commitment
Obi pledged that, if elected, his administration would raise electricity generation and distribution from about 4,000 megawatts to at least 10,000 megawatts within four years.
He said achieving this target would require sustained investment in infrastructure, improved governance, and private sector participation in the energy sector.
Broader Economic Concerns Raised
Beyond electricity, Obi also questioned official unemployment figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), arguing that they do not fully reflect the economic hardship experienced by many Nigerians.
He said his economic strategy would focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and creating incentives for job growth.
