Peter Obi, says it pains him much that Nigeria cannot boast of electricity to
power even one of her major cities, while Tanzania has succeeded in powering
all their major cities.
Obi said that while a World Bank report showed that about 70
per cent of 40 million Tanzanians living in rural areas have received access to
electricity, regrettably, Nigeria’s situation remained the opposite.
The statement comes amid a report that Tanzania, an East
African nation, recently shut down five hydroelectric stations to reduce excess
electricity in the national grid.
According to the report, their decision to shut down power
stations came after production became enough to power their major cities and
give electricity access to the rural dwellers.
However, Obi, in a post on his X handle on Friday, said the
government must sanitize and rescue the sector for the good of the nation.
He said: “Yesterday, I read a report in the Media on how
Tanzania, our East African fellow nation, recently shut down five hydroelectric
stations to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
“Their decision to shut down these power stations stemmed
from the fact that their electricity production was already enough to power
their major cities and give electricity access to the rural dwellers.
“In pain, I wondered how our nation, the giant of Africa,
could not be able to power even one of the major cities, for example, the
capital Abuja, while Tanzania has succeeded in powering all their major cities.
“A World Bank report showed how strong political will and
commitment have been responsible for rapid electricity access in Tanzania which
has seen electricity access move from 7% in 2011 to almost 40% (37.7%) in 2020,
during which about 75% (73.2%) of urban dwellers gained access to electricity
and about 25% (24.5%) of rural areas gained access to electricity.
“A similar report in June 2023 showed that about 70 per cent
of 40 million Tanzanians living in rural areas have received access to
electricity, signifying a monumental growth in the sector, while regrettably
Nigeria’s situation remains the opposite.
“In Nigeria, 60% of our over 200 million people live without
access to electricity, according to a 2022 Energy Progress Report.
“Considering the economic loss resulting from the lack of
access to electricity in our nation, which remains immeasurable and with the
recent electricity tariff increase, one would expect that we would be able, at
least, to power one major city in each geo-political zone soon, and increase
our overall access both in the urban and rural areas.
“The government must, therefore, sanitize and rescue the
sector for the good of the nation.
“If Tanzania could achieve such a milestone in power generation,
then Nigeria can do it even better, with competent and committed leadership.
“A stable power sector is very critical for the journey to a
New Nigeria, to which we remain committed.”
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