‘Work in Progress’ – Alake defends Tinubu’s Electricity Promise

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has defended President Bola Tinubu's electricity promise, stating that his administration is fully committed to fulfilling it despite acknowledging that addressing Nigeria's electricity challenges remains an ongoing task. Three years after Tinubu's inauguration, spokesperson Dele Alake emphasized that the President has taken consistent steps to tackle the structural, institutional, and financial obstacles plaguing the sector for over half a century.

Alake defended the administration's record, asserting that the pledge to end estimated billing and guarantee stable electricity supply would be kept. He cautioned against re-electing Tinubu if he fails to fulfill the promise without providing valid reasons for any shortfall. The council highlighted recent legislative actions, such as the signing of the Electricity Act, 2023, which enabled state governments to participate in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.

Since then, several states have established their regulatory agencies and attracted private investment. The administration also addressed the financial burden inherited from previous administrations by launching a N4tn bond programme to settle verified debts owed to electricity and gas companies. Tinubu's administration initiated the Presidential Metering Initiative, which has provided over 1.5 million customers with electricity meters in the past three years.

The spokesperson also discussed the administration's efforts to adjust electricity tariffs to cost-reflective levels, introduce service bands, and protect low-income households from financial strain. Infrastructure improvements, including grid expansion, modernization of the Osogbo Grid Control Centre, and construction of an East-West super grid, are ongoing.

The council emphasized that electricity infrastructure projects require long-lead equipment, necessitating a long-term approach. Alake cited recent investments by power generation companies, such as Geregu Power Plc's plans to invest in new transformers, as evidence of improving market confidence. The administration acknowledged the need to balance cost-reflective tariffs with affordable electricity for Nigerians, promising to continue exploring measures to enhance the sector's commercial sustainability while safeguarding vulnerable households.