Mr. Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, expressed his deep disappointment that Nigeria, a country with major cities, still lacks electricity while Tanzania has successfully powered all of their major cities.
He referred to a World Bank report which revealed that 70% of the 40 million Tanzanians living in rural areas now have access to electricity.
In contrast, Nigeria’s situation remains the opposite. Recently, Tanzania made the decision to shut down five hydroelectric stations due to excess electricity in their national grid, as their production had already reached a level sufficient to power their major cities and provide electricity to rural areas.
Mr. Obi emphasized the need for the Nigerian government to address and rescue the electricity sector for the benefit of the nation.
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He highlighted the strong political will and commitment in Tanzania that has led to significant progress in electricity access, with urban areas reaching 73.2% and rural areas reaching 24.5% in terms of electricity access.
In June 2023, a report revealed that approximately 70% of the 40 million Tanzanians residing in rural regions now have access to electricity, showcasing significant progress in the sector.
Conversely, Nigeria’s situation stands in stark contrast, with 60% of its over 200 million population lacking access to electricity as per the 2022 Energy Progress Report.
The absence of electricity access in Nigeria has led to substantial economic losses, the extent of which is immeasurable.
Despite recent electricity tariff hikes, there is a pressing need to power at least one major city in each geo-political zone promptly and enhance overall access in both urban and rural areas.
It is imperative for the government to intervene and revitalize the power sector for the betterment of the nation.
Drawing inspiration from Tanzania’s achievements in power generation, Nigeria has the potential to surpass such milestones with capable and dedicated leadership.
A reliable power sector is indispensable for the advancement towards a New Nigeria, a vision that we are steadfastly dedicated to achieving.
