The Bleakest Future Of Nigeria’s Power Sector.

Electricity issue in Nigeria has been a thing of headache. A headache that may never be cured with even with the best of drugs. Some have argued that even the most immaculate man cannot redeem the power sector in Nigeria, which is a great cause of worry and has generated several questions like; is there ever going to be a regular power supply in Nigeria? Even in a corrupt way, federal government have tried to privatize the power sector to see if that will be the solution, they went as far as changing the names thinking that would help solve the problem. Electricity company in Nigeria has metamorphosed into several names, something, which is comparable to the telecommunication giant, Airtel. Yet the problem remains.

Light is rationed across major cities in Nigeria, while some corners in the country have never set eyes on electricity since Christ left the earth. This has caused so many business to close down, and for those who are resilient, the electricity problem have increased the cost of operation. Initially most cities enjoy power supply for approximately 13hr/day, but now it has reduced drastically to 4-6hr/day. These has caused businesses and homes to result on generating sets. Homes that cannot afford better generator go for the infamous ‘I better pass my neighbour’ generating sets. The noise coming from gen sets and the carbon monoxide is another great cause for worry, especially when the world is coming together to fight global warming.

Is there any PHCN at the end of the tunnel for Nigerians? The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which is an independent regulatory body with authority for the regulation of the electric power industry in Nigeria. NERC which was formed in 2005 under the Obasanjo administration’s economic reform agenda through the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005 for formation and review of electricity tariff, transparent policies regarding subsidies, promotion of policies that are efficient and environmentally friendly, and also including forming and enforcing of standards in the creation and use of electricity in Nigeria has done what the country know how to do best -to give hope even when there is non to give.

The question is, how can PHCN get light to every home and manage to keep it permanently? Though NERC, an agency of government has heap the blame on vandalized pipeline which resulted in scarcity of gas. As at 2012, when Nigeria experienced a bit of regular power supply, the country had 4500MGW, unfortunately, the word of NERC officers, because of the scarcity of gas and scheduled repair, the power generation reduced to 2200MGW which exactly, coincide with the period Nigeria experienced blackout. Currently, the country is running on 3600MGW. As at 2-3 weeks ago Nigeria was on 2500MGW. Nigeria is presently waiting on the gas issue to be rectified before electricity can improve and they are projecting end of the year for any significant improvement, meaning to say that Nigeria will in the mean time, stay without electricity pending when the issues are resolved.
This term is not acceptable by Nigerians, we have paid so much that qualifies us to have uninterruptible power supply in the country.

Nigeria is blessed with more than enough sunlight, why won’t the Nigerian government think of an alternative means to generate cheaper and more effective electricity for the people? Why don’t the term, renewable electricity come to their minds when they balance to discuss ELECTRICITY POWER issues?

May God help Nigeria!