Answers on Power and Energy
What Atiku Abubakar's published plans say about Power and Energy. Open any answer to read it in full, see the page it comes from, and share it.
44 answered questions
- What is your position on a Southeast presidency and power-sharing between regions? I hear you, and I thank you for standing with me. On the question of who leads Nigeria next, I have said clearly where I stand on the call for fairness in who occupies that seat.…
- What is your stance on citizens' right to hold peaceful protests against government policies? On protests, I have spoken in support of citizens' right to make their voices heard. When the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations began, I called them a vital channel for the public…
- Why are you running for president in 2027 as a Northerner instead of backing a Southern candidate for power rotation? On power rotation and why I'm running now, I believe in giving constitutional backing to the idea of rotational presidency. I was part of the 1995 Constitutional Conference debate…
- What is your plan to stop election rigging and ensure INEC results aren't manipulated? On INEC and election integrity, I am determined to make electronic transmission of results mandatory from polling units, so that no one can tamper with what you voted for. I will…
- What is your stance on devolving power, resources, and revenue control from Abuja to the states? On giving more power to states, I am determined to move key responsibilities off the Exclusive Legislative List and onto the Concurrent and residual levels, so your state has grea…
- What is your plan to fix Nigeria's power supply and ensure every household gets a meter? Thank you for your prayers, and for raising a concern that touches every home in Nigeria. My plan is to open up the entire power sector, from generation to transmission, for priva…
- What kind of president will you be, and what do you truly stand for? I hear you asking what kind of president I will be, so let me tell you what I stand for. I believe political leadership and active citizenship matter because they are how we work…
- What will you do differently to fix the country's unstable and unreliable power supply? On power supply, my plan is to unbundle state power assets, so they are run differently from how they are today. I will concession national grid transmission to private investors.…
- What is your plan to unite opposition parties, and why should you be trusted? I have made an open call to political leaders across all party lines to unite and forge a formidable coalition, so that Nigerians have a credible opposition capable of steering ou…
- What do you expect from citizens in this partnership? You're very welcome. It means a great deal to me that you'd take the time to engage with me on this. I'll say this to you, as I've said before: the greatest service you can do is…
- Can you guarantee a free and fair election in Rivers and Abuja despite Wike's claims? Good morning to you too. My hope for every election, Rivers and Abuja included, is that it be run strictly on the basis of the law and the electoral umpire's own guidelines, not o…
- What will you do about the state of emergency and removal of elected officials in Rivers State? I have stood with you and spoken out clearly on what has happened to your state's democracy, from the declaration of a state of emergency over Rivers to the way local government e…
- What exactly happened to the $16 billion allocated for power during your time as vice president? I recused myself from all power project contracts during my term, because of a difference with President Obasanjo over the methodology for power infrastructure investments, his pr…
- What is your plan for achieving true federalism and decentralizing power to the states? Decentralizing power in Nigeria is something I care deeply about, and my plan keeps states as the federating units while giving them room to work together more closely, through sh…
- What are you doing to prevent rigging and ensure free, fair elections in 2027? I am determined that the credibility of the 2027 elections starts with fixing the law that governs them. I have called on the Senate to finalise the amendments to the Electoral Ac…
- Will you step down after four years as president? Our constitution provides for four years renewable tenure. What I do as president is far more important than what I will do after my tenure expires.
- Aren't you too old to be president? I have the experience to lead this country, and that is what Nigeria needs now. I have done this work before. Nigerians elected me Vice President twice, in 1999 and 2003, and in g…
- Aren't you too old to be president? I have the experience to lead this country, and that is what Nigeria needs now. I have done this work before. Nigerians elected me Vice President twice, in 1999 and 2003, and in g…
- Why do many power projects remain stalled, and what will you do differently to ensure reliable electricity? Here is what I'd tell you straight: many projects were started, but too many were left stalled, under-funded, or poorly overseen, and that is exactly what I intend to fix differen…
- Would you obey court judgments you disagree with? I have said that Supreme Court judgments are final, not optional. When the court ruled against me on the 2023 presidential election, I made clear the judgment was respected, even…
- Will you accept being challenged by your own supporters if you go wrong? Yes. I am asking you to hold us accountable, not to become people who applaud everything their leaders say. If this party deviates from its values, speak up. If people abuse posit…
- How can you get involved in politics to help bring about change? Join your ward, attend the meetings, ask questions and demand accountability from those who seek to represent you. Political power comes from organising, so take part in choosing…
- What is your position on the continued detention of Sheikh [name] and Nasir El-Rufai? I call for the rule of law to be applied fairly in every case. Their continued detention raises questions about due process that the authorities must answer.
- What is your view on political freedom in Nigeria? I believe our independence demands political freedom. Nigerians must be free to question their leaders, organise peacefully and demand change. Public office belongs to the people,…
- What will you do to give young people real political power, not just token positions? When I speak about youth inclusion, I do not mean ceremonial appointments or a few positions with impressive titles. I mean real responsibility, political representation, economic…
- What role did you play in Nigeria's journey to democracy? I played my part in the long struggle that eventually led to the restoration of democracy in 1999. I entered active politics in 1989 under the leadership of Shehu Musa Yar’Adua an…
- How will you handle Nigeria's relationships with powerful countries like the US and China? I will engage all partners based on Nigeria's interests, building smart, balanced relationships with global powers. This means no dependence on any one partner, and no alignment t…
- What is your plan for Nigeria's foreign policy? Under my government, every foreign engagement will clearly benefit Nigeria's security, economy, sovereignty and technological progress. I will prioritize trade agreements that sup…
- What will you do about electoral crimes and misconduct by election officials? I will establish an Electoral Offences Commission to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes independently. I will also create an Office of the Independent Chief Elections Audi…
- How will you make sure election results aren't tampered with? I will make electronic transmission of results mandatory from polling units, and introduce electronic collation systems so there's no manual manipulation at higher levels. I will…
- How will states get more control over their natural resources? I will push to amend laws like the Petroleum Act, the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, the Land Use Act, and the Petroleum Profit Tax Act, so states can manage and benefit more d…
- How will you make sure prosecutions are fair and not driven by politics? I will establish an independent National Prosecution Service within the first year. This will consolidate prosecutorial powers into a single impartial body that operates strictly…
- Will states get more control over policing and other key areas? Yes. I will move key responsibilities from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent and residual levels, giving states greater authority in areas such as policing, prisons…
- How will you make power supply more reliable in local areas? I want to expand and decentralize how we generate power, so supply is more reliable, resilient, and suited to local needs. I will empower individual states and groups of states to…
- Why are you running when many people believe that it is the turn of the South and do you believe in the power rotation principle? The idea of power rotation became a subject of debate during the 1995 Constitutional Conference, which I was a member of, alongside other prominent Nigerians, including the late D…
- Why have you moved between political parties, and were those moves driven by principle rather than convenience? Political parties, in practical terms, are a vehicle for contesting for political offices in a party-system democracy. That is the primary purpose of the political party. Unfortun…
- Would your government protect Christians, Muslims and other religious communities equally from persecution, even when doing so could carry a political cost? The Nigerian constitution provides universal protection for the right to religion. The right to uphold a religious belief should not be restricted by political considerations beca…
- Many rural communities don't have electricity because they're far from the grid. What will you do to get power to them? I'll make solar mini-grids the primary power source for off-grid communities like yours, backed by zero import tariffs on solar components and capital subsidies for renewable ener…
- How will you make power more reliable and affordable? I'll unbundle state power assets and concession national grid transmission to private investors, opening generation through transmission to full private investment. I'll secure ga…
- How will you ensure communities with electricity poles actually receive power? I understand your frustration. Poles with no power is unacceptable. My plan is to move power distribution and generation off the exclusive federal list, so your state and off-grid…
- Did you ever serve in any of Nigeria's military governments? No, I always refused to serve in Nigeria's military dictatorships. I pursued my career in both public and private life instead, a path that in time led to my being elected twice a…
- If elected, which government assets would you privatise, including NNPCL, refineries or power assets? I've always said Nigeria needs to open government control in parts of our power transmission infrastructure to private companies, to achieve uninterrupted power supply. On refiner…
- Will you publicly declare your assets and business interests if you become president? Yes. I have never shied away from declaring my assets. I believe in accountable leadership, and I am never one to be found wanting when it comes to probity.
- Would you release documents on the Mabilla/Sunrise Power matter and cooperate fully with any investigation into it? Yes, I have always been available for probity. As Vice President, I set aside my own immunity to allow an investigation against me to proceed, making me the only Nigerian politici…