Former Labour Party presidential candidate and ex-Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi has sharply criticised the latest collapse of Nigeria’s national electricity grid, describing it as a continuation of systemic leadership failures that have entrenched the country’s persistent power crisis.
In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account following the grid collapse over the weekend, Obi labelled the recurring blackouts a “national shame,” highlighting that Nigeria has suffered multiple grid failures over consecutive years with the first collapse of 2025 occurring in January and the trend repeating in early 2026.
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“In January 2025, we witnessed the first grid collapse of that year, which was followed by several others. Now in January 2026, the national shame has commenced with yesterday’s collapse,” Obi wrote.
pointed to Nigeria’s chronic under-performance in electricity generation producing roughly 5,000 megawatts despite having Africa’s largest population as evidence of governance and policy failures.
In contrast, countries such as South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria generate and distribute tens of thousands of megawatts despite smaller populations. He also noted that for three consecutive years (2023–2025), Nigeria has ranked among countries with the lowest access to electricity worldwide, leaving nearly 100 million citizens without reliable power and undermining national productivity.
Obi attributed the ongoing power crisis to persistent leadership failures, urging Nigerians to prioritise competence, empathy, and effective governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He stressed that meaningful reform in the power sector is essential to unlock economic growth, create jobs, and improve quality of life across the country.
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The national grid collapse has triggered widespread blackouts across major cities and towns, reigniting public debate over long-standing energy sector challenges including ageing infrastructure, gas supply constraints, and policy implementation gaps.
Image Credit : Nairametrics
Source: Nairametrics
