Former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah, has revealed how former President Olusegun Obasanjo thwarted his efforts to supply uninterrupted electricity to residents of the state.

The former governor made this revelation during an appearance on Inside Sources, a socio-political program on Channels Television hosted by Laolu Akande. Attah explained that his ambition to achieve a 24-hour power supply in Akwa Ibom was derailed by what he termed a flawed federal system, which centralizes control of electricity distribution.

“I wanted to provide uninterrupted power for Akwa Ibom State,” Attah said. “The president initially praised the project and even commissioned the plant. However, upon returning to Abuja, he enforced a law prohibiting states from distributing electricity directly. Instead, we were required to send the power to the national grid—an inefficient and unreliable system notorious for frequent failures.”

Attah’s statement highlights the challenges posed by Nigeria's centralized power structure, which has long been criticized for stifling innovation and progress at the state level. His story underscores the pressing need for reform in the energy sector to allow states greater autonomy in managing electricity distribution.

This revelation offers a glimpse into the long-standing struggles between federal policies and state-level development initiatives, sparking renewed conversations about the future of energy reform in Nigeria.