The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General election, Peter Obi has expressed grave concern over the recent building collapse in Sabon Lugbe, Abuja, and the ongoing power outages affecting various parts of Nigeria.
He made his position known in two seperate statements addressing critical national issue.
The tragic incident in Abuja, which occurred recently which left many people trapped under rubble, is only the latest in a growing series of similar disasters.
The statements which he shared via his X- Handle read,
“It’s distressing and calls for national attention,” Obi stated. He commended the prompt response from residents and emergency personnel at the scene, emphasizing the importance of their first-response efforts. He urged the government to “intensify efforts and ensure the safe and complete rescue of all affected victims.”
Obi further called for a comprehensive investigation into the factors leading to these building collapses, noting the need to review and reinforce building codes and regulations.
“There is a need to arrest and prosecute all erring builders, engineers, and supervisors whose negligence contributes to such incidents,” he asserted.
He conveyed heartfelt sympathies for those affected, hoping for safe rescues and reunions with their families.
Turning to the nationwide power outages, Obi described the situation as “a grievous concern.” Many states, especially in northern Nigeria, have faced prolonged blackouts, causing significant economic strain. Small businesses that rely on public electricity have been particularly hard hit, grappling with the high cost of petroleum products and a challenging business environment.
Obi underscored that Nigeria’s power crisis is solvable, citing Egypt as a successful example of aggressive investment in sustainable energy infrastructure.
He urged Nigerian authorities to provide both immediate relief and long-term solutions to stabilize power access, stating, “With adequate power supply, a New Nigeria is POssible.”