OBJ Called Me At 2:00 a.m. And Asked, ‘Are You Sleeping?’ I Asked, ‘What Should I Be Doing?’ – Liyel Imoke

Former Cross River State Governor and former Minister of Power, Liyel Imoke, has recalled his experience working with former President Olusegun Obasanjo during the early efforts to tackle Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges.

Speaking in an interview on Symfoni TV on Monday, October 5, 2026, Imoke said his involvement in the power sector began after Obasanjo assigned him responsibilities at the then National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), despite his professional background as a lawyer.

Imoke recalled how he received an unexpected call from Obasanjo in the early hours of the morning regarding the assignment.

“OBJ called me at 2:00 a.m. and asked, ‘Are you sleeping?’ I replied, ‘What am I supposed to be doing?’” he said.

According to the former governor, the assignment came at a time when Nigeria was facing severe electricity shortages, with power generation having dropped to a very low level.

He explained that Obasanjo expected him to contribute to efforts to restore electricity generation, particularly by focusing on the rehabilitation of existing generating machines rather than relying solely on the construction of new facilities.

Imoke said the administration set an ambitious target to significantly improve electricity generation and embarked on measures aimed at increasing output within a relatively short period.

He added that his time at NEPA gave him a deeper understanding of the challenges affecting Nigeria’s power sector, particularly issues surrounding generation, transmission and distribution.

According to Imoke, the experience also contributed to his understanding of the need for broader reforms in the electricity sector.

He said some of the lessons from that period eventually informed reforms aimed at restructuring the sector and establishing institutions designed to strengthen regulation and improve the operations of the electricity market.

Click on the link to watch the video from 30:30 – 30:39 HERE

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