Peter Obi Warns of Worsening Poverty Amid Power Outages and High Fuel Costs in Nigeria

Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has expressed concern that ongoing power disruptions and the high cost of petroleum products could exacerbate poverty in Nigeria. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Obi highlighted the severe impact that frequent power outages have on businesses, particularly small enterprises.

The former Anambra State governor lamented the widespread blackout that has persisted in northern Nigeria for several days. "The continued power outages in many parts of the country, particularly in the Northern and Eastern States, as well as South-South states, have remained a cause of grievous concern," he wrote.

Obi emphasized the detrimental effects of the prolonged power crisis on businesses that rely heavily on public electricity for their operations. "The negative impact of the continued power outage on businesses, especially small businesses, who depend primarily on public power supply to sustain their businesses as a means of livelihood, is unimaginable," he stated.

He further warned that the combination of power shortages, the high cost of petroleum products, and a challenging business environment poses a serious threat to the country's economy. "This power crisis, when combined with the present high cost of petroleum products and a harsh operating environment, remains a lethal recipe for widespread business failure and increasing poverty in the country," Obi tweeted.