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Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has dismissed claims that the President promised not to seek re-election in 2027 if he failed to improve electricity supply.
During the 2023 election campaign, Tinubu said, “If I don’t give you constant electricity for four years, when I come back for a second term, don’t vote for me.”
However, speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, Onanuga argued that the President’s remarks had been taken out of context and should not be interpreted as a commitment to forgo a second term.
“That is not exactly what he said. He said he will give Nigerians power. I’m paraphrasing now. He said he will also end the era of estimated billing,” Onanuga said.
According to him, the Tinubu administration has made significant efforts to address metering challenges nationwide.
“A problem that he has largely solved because it should not be his business, but his government is producing meters and asking the DISCOs to give people meters free of charge,” he said.
“And he said, if by any chance he has reasons not to give Nigerians adequate power, then they should understand the problem that he inherited.”
Onanuga maintained that Tinubu has remained committed to reforming the power sector since assuming office in 2023.
“The first thing he did when he came into office was sign the Electricity Act, which enables states to generate, transmit and distribute power,” he said.
“That is a good thing. Some states are already taking advantage of it, and more will do so. That will make the electricity sector open and competitive.”
The presidential aide acknowledged that Nigeria continues to face significant electricity supply challenges but attributed the shortcomings to longstanding structural issues within the sector.
“What people don’t know is that we already have an installed capacity of 13,500 megawatts. What are the problems? No gas. The players in the sector owe gas companies legacy debts of over four trillion naira,” he said.
Onanuga added that the government is pursuing additional measures to maximise existing power assets and improve electricity supply nationwide.
