President Bola Tinubu’s pledge not to seek a second term if he fails to improve electricity supply in Nigeria has been dismissed as misinterpreted by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, who stated that the remark was taken out of context. Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Onanuga clarified that the President’s 2022 campaign statement was conditional and not a binding commitment to step down if power challenges persist. He emphasized that Tinubu’s comments were made in the context of his administration’s determination to deliver tangible improvements in the power sector, not as a political promise to abandon re-election.
Onanuga highlighted that since assuming office, President Tinubu has taken concrete steps to reform the electricity sector. Among these is the signing of the Electricity Act, which empowers states to generate, transmit, and distribute power independently. This legislative move is seen as a major shift in Nigeria’s energy policy, aiming to decentralize power management and boost efficiency. The spokesman also pointed to government initiatives to reduce estimated billing by increasing the distribution of electricity meters and improving overall service delivery.
Despite these efforts, Onanuga acknowledged that electricity supply has not yet met the administration’s goals. He attributed the ongoing challenges to deep-rooted issues, including gas shortages, legacy debts owed to gas suppliers, and the country’s outdated transmission infrastructure. These systemic problems, he noted, have long hampered power generation and distribution across Nigeria, making progress slower than desired.
The Federal Government, according to Onanuga, remains committed to overcoming these obstacles. He stressed that the administration is actively working to enhance power generation and distribution, with a focus on resolving the gas supply bottleneck and modernizing transmission lines. The spokesman reiterated that electricity reform is a top priority, and the government is investing in both short-term fixes and long-term solutions to ensure reliable power for all Nigerians.
Onanuga’s clarification comes amid growing public scrutiny over Nigeria’s power sector, which has struggled for decades with inconsistent supply and frequent outages. While many citizens remain frustrated, the administration insists that meaningful reforms are underway. As the country continues to grapple with energy challenges, the success of these reforms will likely shape public perception of President Tinubu’s leadership and his potential for re-election.
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