Grid collapse, national disgrace – Peter Obi

Labor's 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed grave concern over the recent collapse of Nigeria's national electricity grid, which has plunged large parts of the country into darkness once again.

The national power grid previously collapsed on Monday evening. The power grid collapsed around 6:18 p.m. on Monday, leaving the masses in the dark. Checks by our correspondent revealed that power generation fell from 3.87 gigawatts at 5 p.m. to 3.56 GW at 6 p.m. and 0.00 GW at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company confirmed the grid collapse in a statement on Monday evening.

Meanwhile, the former presidential candidate said in a statement on Tuesday via

“For the umpteenth time, the national power grid has collapsed, plunging much of the country into darkness and exposing the fragility of Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.

“This recurring disaster is a national disgrace and a glaring demonstration of failure of leadership and policy implementation at the highest levels,” Obi said.

He stressed that the repeated failures of the energy system represent a significant obstacle to the country's growth and economic stability.

According to him, such events underline the need for immediate and comprehensive reforms in the energy sector.

Obi noted the economic impact of unreliable electricity supply, particularly on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

He said: “How long will Nigerians have to endure a system that fails to meet one of the crucial requirements for a productive society?”

“This latest grid collapse is emblematic of a leadership and government that has consistently failed to prioritize people’s well-being and economic well-being.

“We all know how enormously important electricity supply is for the transformation of our economy. Their support for SMEs, which are the engine of job creation and a major contributor to our GDP, is immeasurable.”

He argued that the lack of constant power affects the productivity and growth potential of Nigerian businesses.

Obi also criticized the disparity between Nigeria's power generation capacity and that of other African nations. Obi highlighted the differences between Nigeria and economies such as South Africa, Egypt and Algeria.

“Today we are the fourth largest economy in Africa, having fallen from the top position over the years due to leadership failures, including the ongoing energy crisis.

“The inequality in power generation reflects the deep-rooted governance deficit that continues to hold back our growth and potential,” Obi added, highlighting that despite its larger population, Nigeria produces significantly less electricity compared to smaller economies.

Obi called for urgent, comprehensive reform of Nigeria's energy sector and urged the government to focus on initiatives that can drive measurable development.

“Nigerians deserve a government that prioritizes measurable development indicators,” he added.