Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu promised not to seek a second term if his administration 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 comments on electricity were conditional and did not amount to a commitment to forgo re-election.
"It has been taken out of context," Onanuga said, insisting that the President "never said he would not seek re-election if electricity did not improve."
He said the Tinubu administration has demonstrated its commitment to reforming the power sector since taking office, pointing to the signing of the Electricity Act, which allows states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity independently.
Onanuga also cited efforts to curb estimated billing through increased meter distribution and other interventions aimed at improving electricity service delivery.
While acknowledging that electricity supply has not yet reached the administration's target, Onanuga attributed the situation to longstanding structural problems, including gas shortages, legacy debts owed to gas suppliers and an ageing transmission infrastructure.
"We are addressing legacy issues in the power sector," he said, adding that the Federal Government remains focused on improving electricity generation, transmission and distribution across the country.
