By Deborah Nnamdi
Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has challenged the administration of Bola Tinubu over what he described as repeated approvals of funds to settle debts in Nigeria’s power sector, raising concerns about transparency and execution.
Obi made the remarks in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, following the Federal Government’s recent approval of N3.3 trillion to address longstanding liabilities in the sector.
He argued that the latest approval is not the first of its kind under the current administration, questioning whether previous announcements were fully implemented.
“In the past few days, the President has reportedly approved N3.3 trillion as a ‘full and final’ payment for debts in the power sector. Yet, this is not the first time such approvals have been made,” Obi said.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate recalled that a similar N3.3 trillion approval was made on May 17, 2024, while another ₦4 trillion bond was approved on July 25, 2024, for comparable purposes. He noted that several other interventions had also been announced to address the same liabilities.
“This raises a fundamental question: were the previous approvals mere announcements without execution?” he asked.
Obi further questioned whether the newly approved ₦3.3 trillion differs from earlier allocations and how it relates to past debt settlement plans. He stressed the need for clarity on funding sources and accountability in implementation.
“Why were these obligations not settled when due? And from what source will this new payment be made? Are we resorting once more to borrowing to service inefficiencies?” he queried.
The former governor urged the Federal Government to move beyond repeated announcements and adopt sincere, transparent, and decisive reforms to resolve the sector’s challenges.
Nigeria’s power sector has been burdened by mounting debts, including billions owed to generation companies and gas suppliers, which have continued to impact electricity generation and supply.
Despite claims by the government that reforms have attracted investments and reduced liabilities, the sector still faces persistent challenges, including recurring national grid collapses. In 2026 alone, the grid has already suffered multiple failures, following a series of similar incidents recorded in previous years.
The recurring debt settlements and continued instability in electricity supply have fueled ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of interventions aimed at delivering reliable power to Nigerians.
