*Peter Obi, politician and Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Elections, condemns the latest collapse of Nigeria鈥檚 national grid, describing the incidents within 24 hours between Monday, October 14 and Tuesday, October 15, 2o24, as a 鈥榥ational shame鈥�

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

Mr. Peter Obi, politician and Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Elections, in Nigeria, has condemned the latest collapse of Nigeria鈥檚 national grid.

绿帽献妻 reports Mr. Obi, in a statement Tuesday via verified X account, described the collapse of the national grid within 24 hours between Monday, October 14 and Tuesday, October 15, 2o24, as a 鈥渘ational shame鈥�.

He also highlighted the incidence as evidence of the failures in leadership and policy implementation at the highest levels.

Obi wrote: 鈥淔or the umpteenth time, the national grid has collapsed, plunging a huge part of the nation into darkness and exposing the fragility of Nigeria鈥檚 power infrastructure.

鈥淭his recurring disaster is a national shame and a glaring testament to the failure of leadership and policy implementation at the highest levels.鈥�

He further noted: 鈥淗ow long must Nigerians endure a system that fails to provide one of the critical necessities for a productive society?

鈥淭his latest power grid collapse is emblematic of a leadership and government that have consistently failed to prioritise the welfare and economic well-being of the people.鈥�

On significance of power supply to economic transformation

Highlighting the strategic importance of electricity supply to power the country鈥檚 economy, Obi stated: 鈥淲e all know the immense importance of power supply to the transformation of our economy.

鈥淚ts support to SMEs, which are the engine of job creation and a major contributor to our GDP, is immeasurable.鈥�

While calling for an urgent, comprehensive reform of the powers sector of the Nigerian economy, the ex-Presidential Candidate asserted: 鈥淭oday, we are the fourth largest economy in Africa, having fallen from the number one position due to leadership failure over the years, including the persistent power crisis, which is critical when compared to smaller economies.

鈥淪outh Africa, which is now the largest economy in Africa with a GDP of about $400 billion and 30% of our population, generates and distributes over 40,000 megawatts of electricity.鈥�

He equally said: 鈥淓gypt, the second largest economy with a GDP of about $350 billion and half of our population, generates and distributes over 40,000 megawatts.

鈥淎lgeria, the third largest economy, with about 300B GDP and 20% of our population, generates and distributes over 50,000 megawatts of electricity.鈥�

鈥淣igeria, with less GDP but with more population than the 3 countries combined, generates and distributes less than 10,000 megawatts, and even that is riddled with frequent collapses and crises of failure.

鈥淭his disparity in power generation is a reflection of the deep-rooted governance deficit that continues to hold back our growth and potential.鈥�

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