Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has clarified that President Bola Tinubu did not vow to abandon his re-election bid if electricity supply fails to improve significantly.
The statement addresses widespread references to remarks Tinubu made during a business luncheon in December 2022, ahead of the 2023 presidential election. In those comments, Tinubu reportedly 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.”
Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, Onanuga argued that the President’s words have been taken out of context and selectively quoted by critics. He insisted the statement was conditional and not an absolute pledge to forgo a second term.
“He said he will give Nigerians power... and he will also end the era of estimated billing,” Onanuga explained, adding that the government is addressing the metering gap by producing and distributing meters free of charge through the distribution companies (DISCOs).
Onanuga further paraphrased the President’s position: “If by any chance he has reasons not to give Nigerians adequate power, then they should understand the problem that he inherited.”The presidential aide highlighted key reforms under the Tinubu administration, starting with the signing of the Electricity Act, which decentralises power generation, transmission, and distribution. This has enabled states to participate more actively, fostering competition in the sector.
Despite acknowledging that electricity supply has not yet reached the desired level, Onanuga pointed to structural challenges limiting performance. Nigeria has an installed generation capacity of about 13,500 megawatts, but issues such as gas shortages, legacy debts exceeding four trillion naira, and an outdated transmission infrastructure continue to hinder output.
He noted that the administration is actively working to resolve these constraints through ongoing reforms aimed at optimising generation, transmission, and overall delivery.The clarification comes amid public scrutiny of the government’s performance on power supply, a critical campaign issue.
Onanuga maintained the Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving electricity and transforming the power sector for long-term benefits.
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