Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga says President Bola Tinubu did not promise that Nigerians should reject him or that he would abandon his re-election bid if electricity supply does not improve. Onanuga made the clarification in an interview on Arise News, responding to claims that Tinubu made such remarks at a business luncheon in December 2022 ahead of the 2023 election. The alleged quote, widely repeated by critics, links a second term to delivering “constant electricity for four years.” Onanuga argues the comments were conditional, not an unconditional pledge. He says Tinubu also stated he would provide power and address issues such as estimated billing, including reforms to close the metering gap through free meter provision via distribution companies (DISCOs). Onanuga further points to the Tinubu administration’s electricity sector reforms, including signing the Electricity Act, which decentralises generation, transmission and distribution and allows greater state participation. He acknowledges electricity supply has not yet reached desired levels and cites constraints affecting performance, including gas shortages, legacy debts and outdated transmission infrastructure.
Tinubu aide Bayo Onanuga denies president promised to step down over electricity supply
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga says President Bola Tinubu did not promise that Nigerians should reject him or that he would abandon his re-election bid if electricity supply does not improve. Ona...
- Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga says Tinubu did not promise Nigerians should reject him over electricity supply.
- Onanuga says remarks attributed to Tinubu from a December 2022 business luncheon were taken out of context and were conditional.
- He says Tinubu’s position includes improving power supply and ending estimated billing.
- Onanuga cites metering reforms, including plans to provide meters free of charge through DISCOs.
- He points to broader power-sector challenges (such as gas shortages, legacy debts and outdated transmission infrastructure) affecting electricity delivery.
Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga clarifies Tinubu’s remarks on power supply, stating the President never said Nigerians should reject him over electricity is Read More: https://punchng.com/tinubu-never-said-nigerians-should-reject-him-over-power-supply-presidential-aide/
22 hours agoPresidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu pledged not to seek a second term if he failed to improve electricity supply in Nigeria. Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Onanuga said the President’s 2022 campaign remarks had “been taken out of context”. According to him, Tinubu’s statement on electricity was […] Tinubu never promised to abandon re-election bid over power supply — Onanuga
22 hours agoPresidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has clarified that President Bola Tinubu did not vow to abandon his re-election bid if electricity supply fails to improve significantly.The statement addresses widespread references to remarks Tinubu made during a business luncheon in December 2022, ahead of the 2023 presidential election. In those comments, Tinubu reportedly said, “If I don’t give you constant electricity for four years, when I come back for a second term, don’t vote for me.” Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, Onanuga argued that the President’s words have been taken out of context and selectively quoted by critics. He insisted the statement was conditional and not an absolute pledge to forgo a second term. “He said he will give Nigerians power... and he will also end the era of estimated billing,” Onanuga explained, adding that the government is addressing the metering gap by producing and distributing meters free of charge through the distribution companies (DISCOs). Onanuga further paraphrased the President’s position: “If by any chance he has reasons not to give Nigerians adequate power, then they should understand the problem that he inherited.”The presidential aide highlighted key reforms under the Tinubu administration, starting with the signing of the Electricity Act, which decentralises power generation, transmission, and distribution. This has enabled states to participate more actively, fostering competition in the sector. Despite acknowledging that electricity supply has not yet reached the desired level, Onanuga pointed to structural challenges limiting performance. Nigeria has an installed generation capacity of about 13,500 megawatts, but issues such as gas shortages, legacy debts exceeding four trillion naira, and an outdated transmission infrastructure continue to hinder output. He noted that the administration is actively working to resolve these constraints through ongoing reforms aimed at optimising generation, transmission, and overall delivery.The clarification comes amid public scrutiny of the government’s performance on power supply, a critical campaign issue. Onanuga maintained the Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving electricity and transforming the power sector for long-term benefits.
22 hours ago
Senate and House pass sweeping bipartisan housing affordability bill
The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes a bipartisan, sweeping housing affordability bill, then sends it to the House. Mul...
Likud minister says Turkey and Syria pose greater threat than Iran
Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli, from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, says Turkey a...
Trump says America will never be a “Communist Country” after Mamdani-backed primary wins
President Trump says the United States will “NEVER” become a “Communist Country” after several candidates backed by New...