By Abiola Olawale
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has lashed out at the Federal Government following the first national grid collapse of 2026, describing the recurring power failure as a “national shame” and a glaring symptom of leadership failure.
The grid, which plummeted to zero megawatts at approximately 12:40 PM on Friday, January 23, 2026, left millions of Nigerians and businesses in total darkness.
While the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) attributed the collapse to the “simultaneous tripping of multiple 330kV transmission lines,” Obi argued the root cause is far more systemic.
In a scathing statement released via his official X handle on Saturday, Obi noted that the pattern of failure established in previous years has followed Nigeria into the new year.
He described the development as a recurring embarrassment for the country.
Obi also decried Nigeria’s poor electricity access, noting that from 2023 to 2025, the country ranked lowest globally in access to power, with nearly 100 million Nigerians without electricity.
“It is utterly disappointing that our nation continues to rank lowest in electricity access, leaving millions in darkness,” he said.
Comparing Nigeria with other African countries, Obi pointed out that South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria each generate over 40,000 megawatts, while Nigeria, with a population of over 240 million, produces only about 5,000 megawatts, a situation he said severely limits productivity.
According to him, the ongoing power crisis is the result of ineffective leadership.
“This power crisis is a direct result of continuous leadership failures,” Obi stated.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Obi urged Nigerians to choose leaders based on competence and empathy, stressing that meaningful national progress depends on capable leadership.
“It is time to elect individuals with the capacity and dedication to turn our country around,” he added.
