Electric power down the drain

NEPA (now Power-less Holding Company of Nigeria- PHCN) struck at the time and inflicted temporary blindness on the kids who were not used to sudden darkness. After their mother explained NEPA’s antics to them, every time NEPA struck throughout their holiday in Nigeria, the kids echoed, "NEPA has done its job again!!!" The PHCN still inflicts near-permanent blindness on the residents of several Nigerian cities. In some cases, whole cities are denied electricity for long spells due to NEPA’s (or PHCN’s) inability to justify the US$4.07 billion so far invested by government in the power sector. Despite this huge investment, Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity remains at 6,000 MW in 2007, with PHCN only able to generate 3,000 MW against the 10,000 MW projected by ex-President Obasanjo.

This translates to the fact that our electric power generation plants are operating far below their installed capacities leaving industrial and domestic consumers gasping for financial breath. The human and economic cost of this inefficiency is so enormous one professor at the Lagos State University reportedly referred to it as the most expensive darkness in the world. The situation, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2006 annual report, was even better in 2006 when our electricity generation capacity increased to a meagre 7,011.6 MW and actual electricity generated for consumption was 2,638.6 MW, although total electricity consumed was just 1,742.9 MW because PHCN failed woefully to live up to the expectations of electricity consumers.

Rather sadly, officials of the PHCN and the Federal Government, whose responsibility it is to ensure that Nigeria generates sufficient megawatts of electricity required to make us one of the 20 leading nations in the world by 2020, have done nothing but hold their hands up in total surrender. In order to attain this much vaunted status, it is estimated UNDER THE Federal Government Electricity Master Plan that Nigeria requires 15,000 MW by 2008, 20,000 MW by 2010 and 200,000 MW of electricity by 2020.

Government and PHCN know the problems militating against these targets but proffer very little by way of solution. Amongst the identified problems are factors like low water level at the hydropower plants, the disruption of gas supply to the thermal plants, vandalism, illegal petroleum bunkering, and Niger delta militants. Recently, our President’s Special Adviser (Media) claimed that saboteurs were responsible for disruptions to electricity supply nationwide.

There are however questions begging for answers. Who is responsible for preventing saboteurs from crippling power generation and supply? Since government got intelligence reports indicating that saboteurs are responsible for our national darkness, how many saboteurs have been arrested and successfully prosecuted? Who are these faceless saboteurs?

If indeed there are saboteurs, the government has the capacity to fish them out for punishment except they are sacred cows. The blame lies squarely at the doorstep of government and PHCN. The fact remains that very little political will has been demonstrated to provide uninterrupted electricity supply. What Nigeria requires is a commitment to provide uninterrupted electric power supply across the country demonstrated by way of government providing vital equipments, human, infrastructural and financial resources and ensuring the security of PHCN infrastructures. Otherwise we’ll end up in a permanent state of darkness and our economy will be the worst for it. In a nation where well-connected generator and diesel merchants pray daily for perpetual darkness, we are indeed very lucky not have been plunged into a permanent state of darkness by now.

Before the final darkness falls, President Yar’Adua must take very firm but urgent actions to bring an end to this expensive national darkness. If desert nations can generate sufficient electricity to run their economies, Nigeria has no excuse blaming our perpetual darkness on water shortage in our hydro stations. It is not enough for government to tell us about its concerted efforts to add 150 MW the national grid through the Omoku power plant in Rivers state, the so-called progress it has made under the National Integrated Power Projects through the construction of Gereku 414 MW plant in Kogi state, the Omotosho 335 MW plant in Ondo State, the Papalanto 335 MW plant in Ogun state and the Alaoji 346 MW plant in Abia State. Nigerians need results, not excuses. The fact remains that currently, we are in darkness and far from our target.

Government must tackle water shortage, sabotage and the Niger-Delta crisis or nothing will change. Above all, government must tackle corruption in the sector. Cases of cable and transformer damage, theft and sabotage still abound alongside failure by several government agencies and individuals to pay for services rendered/not rendered. If the deteriorating state of Nigeria’s power sector, the frequent power outages, the deterioration in power transmission and distribution and the persistent vandalisation of PHCN distribution infrastructure continue unchecked, by 2020 Nigeria will be a stone-age (instead of a superpower) nation. If the current decay persists, pumping fresh funds into the sector will amount to throwing electric power down the drain. That will make Nigeria a powerless Lilliputian and not a giant by 2020. Government must wake up to its responsibilities!!