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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria’s electricity crisis will persist until the private sector takes control of the energy sector, arguing that government management has failed to deliver lasting solutions.
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He cites the transformation of the telecommunications industry following private sector participation as a model for addressing the country’s persistent power problems.
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Resource person, Oluwaseun Obasanjo, urges young Nigerians to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence and technology to develop local solutions to national challenges.
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Obasanjo’s mentor, Dr Ayodele Aderinwale, advocates evidence-based engagement with government, urging youths to study public budgets and participate actively in political and community organisations.
November 11, (THEWILL) – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has blamed government control for Nigeria’s persistent electricity crisis, declaring that the country will not resolve its power challenges until the private sector takes control of the energy industry.
Obasanjo spoke on Tuesday at the Youth Governance Dialogue, themed “African Youth and Renaissance”, held at the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The former president said successive government interventions had failed to deliver a lasting solution to the electricity problem, arguing that the experience of the telecommunications sector demonstrated the capacity of private operators to transform critical industries.
He maintained that Nigeria would continue to grapple with inadequate electricity supply unless the energy sector was placed in the hands of private investors.
“Government has tried, just like government tried with telecommunications; until we put it in the hands of the private sector, we didn’t solve it. And I believe that until we put energy in the hands of the private sector, we won’t solve it,” he said.
The former president described energy as a critical driver of economic growth and national development, expressing concern that Nigeria had yet to make sufficient progress in addressing its electricity challenges.
Nigeria’s power crisis has persisted for decades despite successive administrations’ efforts to reform the sector and improve electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
In November 2013, the Federal Government privatised the country’s electricity generation and distribution companies, transferring ownership to private investors while retaining the transmission network under government control.
The privatisation was intended to improve efficiency, attract investment and enhance electricity supply. However, the sector continues to face challenges, including inadequate generation and transmission infrastructure, gas supply constraints, distribution losses and liquidity problems.
Obasanjo also expressed optimism that young Nigerians could contribute to resolving the country’s development challenges through innovative ideas, technology and practical business solutions.
Youths Urged To Exploit Technology, Business Opportunities
Speaking at the event, resource person Oluwaseun Obasanjo urged young Nigerians to embrace innovation, entrepreneurship and technology, noting that the country’s large consumer market offered significant opportunities for indigenous businesses.
He challenged young people to develop local products and services capable of competing with foreign companies operating in Nigeria, rather than allowing external businesses to dominate available market opportunities.
“The market in Nigeria is huge. And if foreign companies are coming in every day to take advantage of this market, what can you, as youth, do to be able to succeed in this same market?” he asked.
He described the challenges confronting Nigeria and other African countries as opportunities for innovation, urging young people to identify problems within their communities and develop solutions that could be replicated across the continent.
“Every problem we have is an opportunity to have innovation, not just in Nigeria, but across Africa, because we have similar problems,” he said.
Oluwaseun also warned that young people who failed to embrace emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, risked being left behind in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
“If you are not utilising technology, you will be left behind,” he said.
He encouraged participants to take advantage of free online learning resources, particularly YouTube, to acquire practical skills in areas such as marketing, software development and management.
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Aderinwale Advocates Evidence-Based Policy Engagement
Also speaking at the event, Obasanjo’s mentor, Dr Ayodele Aderinwale, urged young Nigerians seeking to influence public policy to adopt evidence-based advocacy and engage more actively with government institutions.
Aderinwale said young people needed to move beyond complaints and protests by presenting well-researched proposals supported by verifiable facts and data.
He advised those seeking to influence government budgets to study relevant budget documents and understand how public funds were allocated and spent, including provisions for capital projects and personnel costs.
“If you want to influence a state budget, go and read the state budget. Know what share goes to capital spending, what share goes to salaries, how much was approved last year and how much was actually released,” he said.
He also urged young advocates seeking reforms in the education sector to familiarise themselves with the challenges facing public schools, including teachers’ salaries and the state of basic facilities.
“If you want to influence education policy, know what a teacher earns, how many schools in your local government have no functioning toilet and how many lack basic facilities,” he said.
Aderinwale maintained that presenting credible information, costed proposals and practical alternatives would make government officials more willing to engage with young advocates.
“Have facts, have data. I say this as someone who has sat on both sides of the table. When a young person walks into a meeting with a complaint, officials listen very politely. But when a young person walks in with data, a costed alternative and a constituency behind it, officials start negotiating,” he said.
Youths Told To Join Political Parties, Community Organisations
Aderinwale further urged young Nigerians to participate actively in political parties and other organised groups, rather than limiting their involvement in governance to political rallies and public demonstrations.
He encouraged them to attend ward meetings, join professional and trade associations, and participate in residents’ associations and other community organisations.
He said such platforms would provide young people with opportunities to engage government institutions, contribute to policy discussions and participate more meaningfully in decision-making processes.
“Join a political party, attend ward meetings, not only rallies. Join your residents’ association, join your professional body, join your trade association,” he added.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
