Peter Obi condemns Nigeria’s national grid collapses, calling them a national shame and urging immediate reforms to prioritise development.

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]eter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential election, has criticised the persistent collapse of Nigeria’s national power grid, describing it as a “national shame” and a reflection of poor leadership and policy implementation.

Obi made his comments on X (formerly Twitter) after the national grid failed for the second time within 24 hours on Tuesday, marking the sixth collapse in 2024. The outage left millions of Nigerians in darkness, crippling businesses across the country.

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“For the umpteenth time, the national grid has collapsed, plunging a huge part of the nation into darkness and exposing the fragility of Nigeria’s power infrastructure,” Obi wrote, adding that the repeated failures demonstrate a significant leadership deficit at the highest levels.

Obi emphasised that the unreliable power supply has stifled economic growth, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which he called the “engine of job creation” and a crucial contributor to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He questioned how long Nigerians must endure a system that fails to provide a consistent and reliable power supply, an essential element for a productive society.

The former governor compared Nigeria’s power generation to that of other African nations like South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria, highlighting the disparity as a symptom of poor governance.

“Today, 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,” Obi remarked.

He called for comprehensive reforms in the power sector, urging the government to focus on solutions that would bring measurable development to the nation.

“Nigerians deserve a government that prioritises measurable indices of development,” Obi concluded.

Meanwhile, residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed frustration over the grid collapses, labelling them as embarrassing for Nigeria. Many have urged the Federal Government to find lasting solutions to the frequent outages.

Power has been restored to some parts of the country, but residents in areas such as Kubwa, Lugbe, and Kuje continue to voice their concerns.

Mrs Eniola Oluseyi, a resident of Kubwa, called the frequent blackouts “embarrassing,” while Mr Chibuzor Okoye of Lugbe emphasised that repeated grid failures damage Nigeria’s international reputation.

The general sentiment among electricity consumers is one of frustration, with many urging the government to take swift action to prevent further collapses and ensure a stable power supply.

As the nation grapples with the ongoing power crisis, Obi’s call for reform serves as a critical reminder of the need for long-term solutions to support Nigeria’s economic growth and improve the quality of life for its citizens.