*TMSG to Obi: “Aso Rock’s solar plan will ease press
By Bassey Asuquo
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has said that former Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi lacks the capacity to comprehend issues behind the Presidency’s decision to power the Presidential villa with solar energy.
According to the group, Obi’s suggestion that the move amounts to a neglect of the national electricity grid showed that he lacked basic knowledge of the energy mix and ongoing efforts by the federal government to decentralise the national grid.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary Dapo Okubanjo, TMSG noted that only a politician with a background like Obi would not understand how the Presidency’s decision to exit the grid would free up available power for the populace while it continues to build on the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) with Siemens, now in the second phase.
It said: “We were really not surprised to read the simplistic comments of the former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, on the decision of the Presidency to opt for Solar energy to power the Presidential villa.
“While betraying his poor knowledge of issues surrounding the power sector, the former Anambra state governor claimed that exiting the national grid amounted to abandoning the Nigerian people at a time the grid had been performing poorly. It beggars belief that Obi does not know that the move will free up more power for the Nigerian populace in the midst of ongoing efforts to ramp up power supply in the country.
“Mr Obi’s penchant for jumping into any trending public issues he knows nothing about is legendary and would certainly be responsible for his failure to realise that the solar energy solution for the Presidential villa complex is a cost-saving measure at a time many Nigerians want a reduction in the cost of governance.
“For instance, how could someone who prides himself as prudent not know that the solar power system would save the country the billions of naira spent on electricity bills and diesel annually in the Presidential complex?”
TMSG also wondered why Obi would claim that the President Tinubu administration has not shown commitment to improving electricity supply nationwide at a time the German authorities have publicly affirmed the readiness of the Nigerian government to ensure a more robust and reliable electricity supply.
“It is shameful that a Presidential hopeful would pretend not to know that, only a few days ago, Germany’s Deputy Head of Mission in Nigeria, Johannes Lehne, disclosed at a function that the $2.3 billion Siemens power agreement between Nigeria and Germany was revived by the Tinubu administration after it went dormant towards the tail end of the preceding Muhammadu Buhari administration.
“That, more than anything, is a confirmation that the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) aimed at modernising and expanding the national grid as well as boosting power generation and supply in the country is an ongoing project.
“So there is no way that the decision to disconnect the Presidential villa from the grid would amount to neglecting the people. The move would reduce pressure on the national grid pending the installation of power transformers and mobile substations from Siemens Energy, which has been completed and connected to key grid locations nationwide under the first phase of the PPI.
“We are aware that the first phase is about 80% completed leading to the commencement of the second phase, aimed at raising transmission capacity in stages to achieve the long-term target of 12,000MW agreed under the bilateral pact
“Under the government-to-government agreement with Germany, Phase 2 of the Siemens projects will deliver seven upgraded existing power lines and ten new ones, covering 544 kilometres and capable of carrying 7,140 megawatts of power.
“We are equally aware that there is an ongoing solarisation of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as several educational and health institutions to further reduce pressure from the national grid, clearly the issue is beyond Peter Obi’s depth,” it added.
TMSG urged Nigerians to be wary of more outlandish claims and mischievous comments from opposition elements on the policies and programmes of the President Tinubu administration in the run-up to next year’s elections.
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