Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu promised not to seek a second term in office if he failed to improve electricity supply across Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Onanuga said the President’s remarks during the 2022 election campaign had been misinterpreted and taken out of context.
According to him, Tinubu’s comments on electricity were conditional and should not be construed as a definitive pledge to forgo re-election if power supply challenges persisted.
Defending the administration’s performance in the power sector, Onanuga highlighted several reforms initiated since Tinubu assumed office. He cited the signing of the Electricity Act, which empowers states to independently generate, transmit and distribute electricity, as one of the landmark steps taken by the government.
He also pointed to ongoing efforts to reduce estimated billing through increased meter distribution and other interventions aimed at improving electricity service delivery nationwide.
While acknowledging that power supply has not yet reached the level envisioned by the administration, Onanuga attributed the situation to longstanding structural challenges, including inadequate gas supply, huge legacy debts owed to gas suppliers, and an ageing transmission network.
The presidential spokesman maintained that the Federal Government remains committed to addressing the challenges and improving electricity generation, transmission and distribution across the country.
He stressed that the administration’s reforms are laying the foundation for long-term stability in Nigeria’s power sector despite the difficulties inherited from previous years.
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