The presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement, Esther Okereke, has promised to increase Nigeria’s electricity generation to 25,000 megawatts within her first 100 days in office if elected president in 2027.
Okereke, a Nollywood actress and humanitarian, made the pledge during an appearance on Arise TV on Wednesday night, where she identified the power crisis as the first major challenge her administration would tackle.
According to her, improving electricity supply would also help the government confront other problems, particularly insecurity, which she said could be better addressed once the country’s power situation was stabilised.
Okereke said Nigeria had enough professionals capable of fixing the electricity sector but argued that political will and the right leadership were needed to allow them to deliver.
She identified corruption and personal interests as major obstacles to progress in the power sector.
The NRM candidate said she would hold officials responsible for delivering on specific targets, adding that those who failed to meet agreed objectives should make way for others capable of achieving them.
She also promised to promote renewable energy and decentralised power generation as part of efforts to improve electricity supply across the country.
Defending the feasibility of her 25,000MW target, Okereke said her administration would rely on professionals and advisers with the technical expertise required to achieve its objectives.
Okereke also rejected attempts to define her presidential bid solely by her career in Nollywood, pointing to her humanitarian activities and business experience as part of her qualifications for the presidency.
She said she had worked with vulnerable groups, including widows, orphans and people living with disabilities, through her foundations.
The presidential candidate described herself as a grassroots politician who understood the challenges faced by ordinary Nigerians because of her direct experience with poor infrastructure, unreliable electricity and other basic needs.
She said her frustration with the difficulties faced by people she supported through her humanitarian work eventually influenced her decision to seek political office.
Okereke said she believed she could have a greater impact by addressing some of those problems through government rather than continuing to tackle them individually.
She identified the ESTHER Agenda as the foundation of her campaign, describing it as a six-pillar manifesto focused on issues including economic development, energy, education, security, social development, technology, transparency, housing and health.
On insecurity, Okereke said her administration would increase funding for security agencies and strengthen community policing.
She argued that people familiar with their local communities and terrain could play an important role in protecting them if properly trained and supported.
The NRM candidate also pledged to tackle corruption, develop human capital and review government agencies and parastatals she considers redundant.
She said her administration would seek to recover public funds and redirect such resources towards national development.
Okereke further defended her lack of previous government experience, citing her involvement in hospitality, real estate, investments, construction and agriculture.
She said effective leadership was ultimately about having the will to make difficult decisions in the interest of Nigerians.
On her candidacy as a woman, Okereke said she was not asking Nigerians to support her simply because of her gender. Rather, she urged voters to consider a different approach to leadership after years of male-dominated political leadership.
She described her presidential bid as a “sacred assignment” aimed at restoring the value of human life and addressing the country’s security and development challenges.