Atiku Accuses Tinubu Of Failing To Deliver On Electricity Promise
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over persistent power outages across the country, accusing his administration of offering excuses instead of providing Nigerians with stable electricity.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remarks in a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Media Aide, Phrank Shaibu.
He said Nigerians were tired of what he described as excuses and propaganda from the Tinubu administration while millions of households and businesses continued to experience poor electricity supply.
According to him, the government has failed to address the country’s power challenges despite increasing electricity tariffs and introducing several policies in the sector.
“Tinubu’s electricity excuses cannot light a single home. Nigerians need light, not excuses,” Atiku said.
He also faulted the electricity tariff structure, which divides consumers into Bands A, B, C, D and E, arguing that customers continued to pay for electricity without receiving reliable supply.
Atiku noted that some Band A customers pay about ₦209.50 per unit before Value Added Tax (VAT), adding that the rising cost of electricity had placed additional pressure on households and businesses.
He said no family should have to choose between paying electricity bills and buying food, while businesses should not be made to pay higher tariffs for unreliable power supply.
The former vice president also questioned the Federal Government’s plan to end electricity subsidies from 2027, demanding clarification on how the decision would affect consumers.
He urged the government to provide a clear explanation of the proposed policy and its implications for electricity bills.
Atiku further called for the abolition of the existing electricity band system, proposing a more affordable arrangement that would hold electricity distribution companies accountable for the quality of power supplied to consumers.
He also criticised the government’s proposed ₦4 trillion bond programme to settle outstanding debts owed to electricity generation and gas companies.
According to him, settling old debts should not be presented as an achievement in expanding the country’s electricity generation capacity.
“Paying old debts is not the same as building new power infrastructure. Bonds cannot be presented as a substitute for power in people’s homes,” he said.
Atiku’s comments followed a defence of the Tinubu administration’s electricity sector reforms by the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Alake.
Alake had cited the Electricity Act 2023, the bond programme, metering initiatives and transmission projects as evidence of the government’s efforts to improve electricity supply.
However, Atiku insisted that policies, financial commitments and project announcements could not replace actual improvements in power supply.
He also recalled Tinubu’s campaign promise ahead of the 2023 presidential election that Nigerians should not vote for him for a second term if he failed to provide constant electricity within four years.
Atiku argued that Nigerians deserved to hold the President accountable for the promise rather than continue to receive explanations from his campaign team.
