Attah blames poor electricity supply on flawed federal system

Former Akwa Ibom Governor, Victor Attah, has criticised Nigeria’s federal structure, claiming that it blocked his efforts to provide uninterrupted electricity to his state during his tenure from 1999 to 2007.

Attah revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo barred him from distributing power generated from a 191-megawatt plant funded by Akwa Ibom’s resources.

The electricity, he said, was instead directed to the national grid, which he described as inefficient and prone to collapse.

“I used Akwa Ibom money to build the plant, but I could not distribute power to my people,” Attah said on a Channels Television programme. “The president brought a law that if you generate power, you cannot distribute it. This faulty federal arrangement undermines progress.”

Attah lamented the limitations imposed by Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which he described as “authoritarian” and a relic of military rule.

“What we have today is not a federal constitution. Unless we embrace true federalism, we will not make progress,” he added.

Reflecting on his unfulfilled vision of 24-hour electricity for Akwa Ibom, Attah argued that decentralising power generation and distribution would have set a precedent for other states.

He applauded the Electricity Act 2023, which empowers states to establish their own electricity markets, calling it a step towards true federalism.

“Our governor is now working on creating an Akwa Ibom power company that can both generate and distribute electricity to our people,” he said.

Nigeria’s energy sector has long struggled with inefficiencies, despite attempts at reform. The privatisation of electricity services and the recent decentralisation efforts have been met with mixed results, as challenges like policy inconsistencies and operational bottlenecks persist.

Attah stressed that a restructured federal system could unlock the country’s potential. “If we had a federal constitution, none of this would have happened. Each state could build and control its infrastructure, regardless of political affiliations,” he said.