Nigeria at 66:. Expert, consumers want improved power supply
Abuja, Oct. 2026 (TBL Africa) As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence, an expert on power and many electricity consumers have called for improved power supply.
The stakeholders, who spoke in Abuja on Thursday, were reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day Speech.
According to them, improved power is one of the key dividends they expect from the present administration.
Mr Uket Obonga, the National Secretary, Nigerian Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network said that the major challenge in the power sector was lack of synergy among the key players.
According to him, the key players in the sector are operating a disjointed system.
”As long as we continue doing what we are doing presently in the sector, I don’t see any growth or development, ” he said.
Obonga said that there was no improvement in electricity as the country had not gone beyond 5,000 Megawatts. (MW).
He said: ”we have installed capacity of 13,000MW and we are still dancing between 3,000 and 5,000megawatts year- in, year-out since 2013.
”Everyday, new policies are created to compound issues, we are not yet there , so there is a need for synergy among key players to make the sector work, ” he said.
Mr Adeola Ogundipe, a lawyer who resides at Lugbe, commended the president on his independence speech.
Ogundipe said the president’s speech was reassuring and addressed key concerns of Nigerians.
“I commend the president on the Independence speech. It is hopeful, it acknowledges our challenges, especially in the economy and power sector, and shows commitment to reforms,” he said.
He, however, joined other consumers in calling for improved power supply.
“At 66, what Nigerians want is steady power supply, we want to feel it in our homes and businesses across the country,” he said.
Mrs Beatrice Osakwe, a business woman who resides at Trademore Estate on Airport Road, said that Nigerians deserved steady electricity to run their businesses.
She said small business owners in estates along Airport Road spend heavily on diesel and petrol to keep their businesses running.
“Nigerians deserve steady electricity to do businesses. We cannot continue to run generators for everything”she said.
Osakwe, however, commended the president on the promise that the Federal Government would use gas to power new industries.
” It is a good direction. We have gas in abundance, we should use it to power industries and create jobs,” she said.
