It is painful that Nigeria cannot power one major city – Peter Obi speaks on Tanzania’s successful electrification of all their major urban centers
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s inability to provide electricity to even one of its major cities, contrasting it with Tanzania’s successful electrification of all their major urban centers.
Obi highlighted a World Bank report indicating that approximately 70 per cent of Tanzania’s 40 million rural inhabitants now have access to electricity, whereas Nigeria’s situation remains starkly different.
His remarks coincide with reports of Tanzania, an East African nation, shutting down five hydroelectric stations due to surplus electricity in the national grid. This decision followed the achievement of sufficient production to power their major cities and extend electricity access to rural areas.
In a post on his X handle on Friday, Obi underscored the imperative for the government to overhaul and salvage the electricity sector for the nation’s benefit.
He said: “Yesterday, I read a report in the Media on how Tanzania, our East African fellow nation, recently shut down five hydroelectric stations to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
“Their decision to shut down these power stations stemmed from the fact that their electricity production was already enough to power their major cities and give electricity access to the rural dwellers.
“In pain, I wondered how our nation, the giant of Africa, could not be able to power even one of the major cities, for example, the capital Abuja, while Tanzania has succeeded in powering all their major cities.
“A World Bank report showed how strong political will and commitment have been responsible for rapid electricity access in Tanzania which has seen electricity access move from 7% in 2011 to almost 40% (37.7%) in 2020, during which about 75% (73.2%) of urban dwellers gained access to electricity and about 25% (24.5%) of rural areas gained access to electricity.
“A similar report in June 2023 showed that about 70 per cent of 40 million Tanzanians living in rural areas have received access to electricity, signifying a monumental growth in the sector, while regrettably Nigeria’s situation remains the opposite.
“In Nigeria, 60% of our over 200 million people live without access to electricity, according to a 2022 Energy Progress Report.
“Considering the economic loss resulting from the lack of access to electricity in our nation, which remains immeasurable and with the recent electricity tariff increase, one would expect that we would be able, at least, to power one major city in each geo-political zone soon, and increase our overall access both in the urban and rural areas.
“The government must, therefore, sanitize and rescue the sector for the good of the nation.
“If Tanzania could achieve such a milestone in power generation, then Nigeria can do it even better, with competent and committed leadership.
“A stable power sector is very critical for the journey to a New Nigeria, to which we remain committed.”
