The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has clarified his earlier remarks criticizing the federal government over reports of a National Grid collapse.
Reports emerged on Saturday, barely ten days into the new year, suggesting that Nigeria’s national power grid had experienced its first major collapse of 2025. The alleged incident reportedly plunged large parts of the country into darkness, causing widespread concern.
Reacting to the reports, Peter Obi expressed frustration over what he described as a recurring issue in Nigeria’s power sector. He lamented the frequent disruptions, highlighting their adverse effects on businesses, households, and the nation’s overall development. Obi stated that these power outages had become a significant obstacle to economic progress and had exacerbated the challenges faced by ordinary Nigerians.
However, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) swiftly debunked the claims of a grid collapse. The TCN clarified that the incident involved a line tripping, which only affected parts of Lagos State, rather than a nationwide power outage.
In a subsequent statement on Sunday via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Obi acknowledged the TCN’s clarification and retracted his earlier comments. He explained that his initial reaction was based on reports from credible media outlets, which he later discovered to be inaccurate.
His statement read:
“Following my earlier message regarding the alleged collapse of the National Grid, which was based on reports from reputable media platforms, I have since learned that there was no such collapse. Instead, the incident involved the tripping of the Osogbo-Ihovbor and Benin-Omotosho lines, which affected the Lagos axis.
“I appreciate the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for their prompt clarification on the matter.
“I sincerely hope we will prioritize enhancing our infrastructure in the power sector and remain committed to improving power generation to meet the growing needs of over 200 million Nigerians.”
This incident has once again spotlighted Nigeria’s power sector challenges. Despite efforts to revamp the sector, including privatization and investments in infrastructure, the nation still grapples with inconsistent power supply. Experts argue that addressing these issues requires not only investments in infrastructure but also reforms to improve management, efficiency, and accountability within the sector.
Obi’s remarks underline the urgent need for strategic planning and execution to boost Nigeria’s power generation and distribution capacity. With a population of over 200 million, the demand for stable electricity continues to rise, and many stakeholders emphasize that reliable power supply is critical for economic growth, industrialization, and improving the quality of life for Nigerians.
As the conversation around power sector reforms persists, it remains to be seen how policymakers and stakeholders will address these pressing concerns to deliver sustainable solutions for the nation’s energy needs.
