23 October 2009
Light Up Nigeria!
Posted by admin under: Uncategorized .
Another “Failed States Index” report from Fund For Peace was released a few weeks ago. Unsurprisingly, Nigeria was present in the list of the world’s failed states. Ranking 15th, Nigeria is listed amongst countries who are either at war or under tight military or civilian dictatorship. The first time the report was released with Nigeria among the list of failed states, I thought to myself: “westerners are at their gimmicks again”. After going through the criteria used in determining the countries that made the list, I couldn’t help agreeing since Nigeria met all the criteria, unfortunately. A nation powered by generators is without doubt a failed state.
One thing you cannot miss on your visit to Nigeria is the presence of varying sizes of power generators. From the micro-sizes used by road-side barbering salons to the giant power plants used by factories, generators play a vital role in the daily lives of people in Nigeria. This is because the state-owned power generation/distributing company, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), is very useless. The little power they generate is haphazardly distributed across the nation to those who are unfortunate enough to be connected to the national grid.
The core of the matter is simple: Nigeria’s power generation is less then a quarter of its electricity needs. Even the little generated is not shared by a timetable. No. The power company switches off/on the power without warning, several times everyday. I am yet to decipher the exact reason behind this chaos.
It is no better in any part of Nigeria. The last time I visited the national capital Abuja was June 2008. I had been under the illusion that power supply would be somewhat better in Abuja. I was very wrong! The number of generators running around the business centres I visited was enough proof. I enquired from residents who told me power supply was just as bad as it is elsewhere in Nigeria. It gets worse to know that some areas in Nigeria go without power for weeks. Emergency institutions like the Police, hospitals, fire service etc do not receive any priority. Even the seat of government is not spared. The Presidency shamelessly included cost of acquiring & maintenance power generators in their 2009 budget proposal – a clear admittance of failure!
On a lighter note, when NigComSat-1 (Nigeria’s first communications satellite) was forcibly shut-down and “parked” somewhere in space due to battery problems, I concluded that Nigeria has been cursed with power problems.
The negative effects of the poor power supply are countless:
- Poor lighting on roads at night resulting in poor visibility for drivers and pedestrians. The danger is obvious.
- Lack of lighting for residences, shops and offices at night emboldens petty thieves as they hide under the cover of darkness to perpetrate their evil trade. Armed robbers (older cousins of petty thieves) in Nigeria are far too bold to be deterred by light. Some rob in day time!
- Businesses that rely on electricity for production are forced to offer their goods and services at higher rates as they have to pass-on the cost of buying a power generator, fuel and other associated costs. Such businesses by default cannot compete effectively with foreign companies that export goods & services to Nigeria. Some factories are already relocating to neighbouring countries as Nigeria is getting too unfavourable for their respective businesses.
- Many lose their lives in hospital as there is insufficient electricity to power machines used in performing surgical operations and even critical life support systems are rendered useless.
- Traffic in heavily populated cities is chaotic as traffic lights (where they exist) are dead and a human being (traffic warden) has to stand in the very hot sun to control traffic. Chaos rules after 6pm as these traffic wardens “close” in some parts of Nigeria. They simply abandon the motorists to their fate. I have witnessed this madness at Iwo Road in Ibadan before.
- Power generators have killed thousands of Nigerians over the years. Out of ignorance, some leave the generators in an enclosed area. A fatal dosage of Carbon Monoxide gas (part of the fumes from the generators’ exhaust pipe) soon sends them to the world beyond.
- All electronic gadgets are powered by electricity. How Nigeria can compete in a global village powered by computers and communication networks is obvious to all.
- The list is by no means exhaustive but contains only a few of the negative effects that come to mind at the time of writing.
It is against this back-drop that I join the voice of Nigerians to demand that the President of Nigeria fixes the power problem. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, you should consider reducing your “seven-point agenda” to just one: Let there be light!
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN at lightupnigeria.org
4 Comments so far...
Enitan Onikoyi Says:
26 October 2009 at 1:12 am.
The power that force government to do the right thing is not the militant power, but the many voices of people confirming to them that they are wrong. The economy of our nation cannot grow when our government did not consider electricity as important. And Dora Akunyili got it wrong. No matter what Mr President is doing, without a successful electricity in Nigeria, he has not don anything yet. So, Yar’dua, it is time for you to light the light.
vincent chimezie Says:
26 October 2009 at 8:03 pm.
This mvt is highly appreciated,a step in the right direction.May I suggest ,that b4 power problem can be fixed in Nigeria,we need to take men like Femi Otedola,(who represents the cabal that imports refined petroleum products)out of business.Foreign companies like Mikano et al has to be kicked out of Nigeria too,because they spend millions bribing our law makers to frustrate every effort on fixing the power sector so they can sell generators.What about the billions given to Liyel Imoke to light up Nigeria.U guys are doing the right thing,but it’s not as easy as it seems. I pray it works this time.
Ilori Adegbola Oloyede Says:
26 October 2009 at 8:24 pm.
I strongly believe that you guys are on the right path.We cannot just sit down and lament,we all must stand up utilize all the avenue we have to pressure the ruling class to light-up Nigeria…It is our right…Lets get more committed to this mission and surely we’ll get right!May the good lord guild you all.
Enitan Onikoyi Says:
17 December 2009 at 10:38 pm.
Nigeria as the rest of the world are looking for alternate products that will not polute the world. Yes, Nigeria will feel the impact of less revenue from the sales of oil, but we are aboundantly blessed with the sun power. The seed of solar power sown today will bring its reward tomorrow. Please, light the light.
