The
Nigeria’s power sector is presently yearning for rescue that if drastic measure
isn’t taken, soonest the country won’t only reckoned to be synonymous with
blackout but a place invariably used as a case-study whenever non-electricity
supply is being discussed.
It’s indeed worrisome to acknowledge that
in spite of the intimidating size of Nigeria, both in landmass and population
of over 160 million individuals, she’s currently striving toward boasting of
steady seven thousand megawatts (7,000MW) of electricity supply, whereas nations
like Ghana, South-Africa, Iran, South-Korea, among others alike, that aren’t up
to 60 million people on the average, presently boast of over fifty thousand
megawatts (50,000MW). Such shocking phenomenon calls for thorough examination
in the country’s power sector.
During the past administration, Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo’s particularly, the Power Reform Act was introduced, which
was aimed at boosting electricity supply. In addition, the then existing
National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) was changed to Power Holding Company
of Nigeria (PHCN) owing to concession. National Integrated Power Project (NIPP)
was equally initiated. Piqued by the epileptic power situation, Late President
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, on assumption of office in 2007, lamented that the government
under Chief Obasanjo squandered about $10 billion on the NIPP with little or no
effect.
On power sector alone, the administration
of Chief Obasanjo reportedly spent $16 billion approximately equivalent to
#3.52 trillion, his successor Late Yar’Adua expended $5.375 billion (#1.183
trillion), whilst immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration
spent $8.26 billion (#1.817 trillion). In a nutshell, if comments of past
Nigerian leaders are anything to go by, the country, in the last 16 years, spent
about $29.635 billion amounting to #6.52 trillion on quest for steady power
supply.
It would be recalled that during Dr
Jonathan’s reign, the distribution section/phase of the power sector was
totally deregulated, thereby leading to Public-Private Partnership (PPP); a
measure that Nigerians thought would salvage the power industry. It’s worth
noting that the power sector comprises three major sections (phases) namely:
the generation, transmission, and distribution sections. These three phases
collectively contribute to the production of the two hundred and twenty
Alternating-Current Voltage (AC220V) required by electricity consumers in
Nigeria.
Despite all these measures, rather than
improving, the country’s power sector remains in a comatose state, or even
deteriorates on a daily basis. The various distribution firms, instead of
concentrating on how to serve the teeming consumers, end up compounding the
already existing plight. At the moment, an electricity consumer in Nigeria,
regardless of locality, would be faced with a utility bill even though he never
enjoyed any power supply in the past; one might begin to wonder where such bill
was fabricated.
The problem with the Nigerian power sector
remains lack of technical know-how cum initiative as well as decay in
maintenance culture. Most times, the personnel at the generation phase would
inform Nigerians that the supply of gasoline has depreciated owing to the
ongoing pipeline vandalism caused by the various militant groups. Suchlike report
is no doubt, to say the least, ridiculous and laughable in a country like ours
that can boast of so many sources of electricity generation in abundance.
Frankly, over-dependence on mono-source is really telling on the Nigerian
economy at large, not just in the power sector.
A few of the country’s mineral resources
alone, such as coal and what have you, can generate enormous electricity
required by the overall Nigerians. Similarly, biomass and wind-power, which are
renewable and reliable energy sources, if properly harnessed, can generate
electricity that can serve the entire Nigerian population. Biomass can either
be used directly via combustion to produce heat, or indirectly after converting
it to various forms of biofuel. Its conversion to biofuel can be achieved by
different methods broadly classified into chemical, thermal, and biochemical
methods.
Besides, why is solar energy in abeyance?
Most western countries like Germany that cannot boast of a steady fifteen
degree Celsius (15*C) depends mainly on solar energy as regards power supply
let alone Nigeria that can steadily boast of over 30*C. The country is abound
with the four energy sources mentioned so far; the resources are there lying
fallow. Our duty is to harness them; all the government needs to do is to
create an industry that would produce the required facilities, and such
approach cannot be actualized without lifting embargo on PPP.
Above all, considering the ongoing power
generation via turbine or hydro-plants, there’s compelling need for the
government to decentralize the transmission grid. Rather than sustaining the
national grid, since it’s obvious that such sustenance is cumbersome, each
region or zone ought to be entitled to a transmission grid, thereby easing the
maintenance cost. Such approach won’t only reduce cost, but would equally boost
adequate and steady power supply across the federation. The private sector must
also be given a room to key in; the various established private transmission
grids such as the Power Geometrics situated in Aba, Abia State invented by Prof
Bart Nnaji needs to be encouraged effectively.
Summarily, before blackout becomes our
trademark, the Ministry of Power must be mindful of the needful. Think about
it!
Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
(TheMediaAmbassador)-ICT/Engineering Consultant, Researcher, Blogger, Analyst & Activist-
Founder/CEO, Docfred (Nig.) Ent. - Owerri
____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
http://frednwaozor.blogspot.com
Twitter: @mediambassador
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