Onanuga: Tinubu Never Promised to Abandon Re-election Bid Over Power Supply

Presidential Spokesman has dismissed claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promised not to seek a second term if he failed to improve electricity supply within four years.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, said the President’s comments made during the 2023 campaign had been taken out of context.

According to Onanuga, Tinubu’s remarks on electricity were conditional and reflected his commitment to solving the country’s power challenges rather than a pledge to forgo re-election.

He explained that the administration has already taken major steps to reform the sector, including signing the Electricity Act, which allows states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity independently. He said the legislation has opened the industry to greater competition, with several states already beginning to take advantage of the new opportunities.

Onanuga also highlighted government efforts to tackle estimated billing through a nationwide metering programme, noting that the administration is working with distribution companies to provide more Nigerians with electricity meters at no cost.

While admitting that power supply has not yet reached the level envisioned by the President, he attributed the situation to long-standing structural issues, including gas shortages, legacy debts exceeding ₦4 trillion owed to gas suppliers, and an ageing transmission network.

He noted that although Nigeria has an installed generation capacity of about 13,500 megawatts, these challenges have continued to limit electricity delivery across the country.

The presidential spokesman maintained that the Tinubu administration remains committed to addressing the sector’s problems through ongoing reforms aimed at improving power generation, transmission and distribution.