Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has sharply criticised the latest collapse of Nigeria’s national electricity grid, calling it a “national shame” and a symptom of enduring governance failures in the power sector.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday 24th January titled “2026: The Collapse Continues,” Obi noted that the grid failure recorded in late January 2026 mirrored several breakdowns from the previous year. He pointed out that January 2025 also saw the first collapse of that year, which was then followed by multiple subsequent failures.
Obi lamented that for three consecutive years, from 2023 to 2025, Nigeria has been ranked among countries with the lowest access to electricity in the world, leaving nearly 100 million citizens without power.
He highlighted the stark contrast between Nigeria’s electricity output and that of other African nations, saying countries like South Africa and Egypt with significantly smaller populations generate and distribute over 40,000 megawatts of power, while Nigeria, despite being the continent’s most populous nation with over 240 million people, produces roughly 5,000 megawatts.
Obi attributed the persistent grid collapses and inadequate power generation to ongoing leadership shortcomings. According to him, the power sector requires competent and committed leadership to function effectively and meet the country’s developmental needs.
As Nigerians look toward the 2027 general elections, Obi urged voters to prioritise leadership choices rooted in competence and empathy, arguing that Nigeria needs leaders capable of initiating lasting structural improvements.
