By Ebele Orakpo
As the countdown to the December dead line for the achievement of 6,000 megawatts power generation promised Nigerians by the Federal Gov
Power Transmission
ernment begins, hapless Nigerians who are no longer strangers to unfulfilled promises by their leaders, are watching to see how this 8th wonder of the world would be performed.
Meanwhile, the power situation is not improving. Across the country, Nigerians stay for days without power supply. In fact, they are so used to not having electricity supply from the utility company, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) that whenever there is power supply for a few hours, they begin to wonder what has gone wrong because as far as they are concerned, it is abnormal to have light for up to an hour without interruption.
As a result of all these, almost every household has a generator, no matter how small. At least the smallest ones popularly called I better pass my neighbour, can power the light bulbs and the fans which guarantees a semblance of a good night’s rest despite the noise and fumes.
According to the General Secretary, Nigeria Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Comrade Joe Ajaero in a chat with Vanguard, “At present, the country generates about 2,700 megawatts.”
With this, one wonders how possible it is for the government to meet its 6,000mw target in the next few weeks. According to a recent World Alliance for Decentralised Energy (WADE) report, “ Nigeria currently suffers from acute energy poverty.
Less than 50 per cent of the population have access to electricity, a situation particularly severe in rural areas. Since inadequate access to electricity is a key driver of poverty, low economic growth and underdevelopment, Nigeria urgently needs to address the energy problem if it is to achieve its Vision 20:2020 and the Millennium Development Goals.”
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had noted that about 79,000 Nigerians die every year as a result of indoor smoke pollution, no thanks to generators, kerosene stoves and lanterns, wood stoves, coal etc. In the same vein, surveys carried out by the United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO) revealed that manufacturers in Nigeria generate 72 per cent of their own power needs. Is it any wonder then that made-in-Nigeria goods are more expensive when compared to goods imported from countries like China, India, Indonesia etc?
Unfortunately, the government is not fully exploring other sources of energy like solar and wind which Nigeria has in abundance.Dr. Patrick Owelle, the managing director/Chief Executive Officer, PSC Industries Ltd, had in an interview with Vanguard challenged the Federal Government to embrace solar energy if indeed it is serious about achieving its target and even more. He stated categorically that his company can provide the 6,000 megawatts overnight, noting that solar energy is cleaner as the question of environmental pollution with fumes and noise, green house gases effect, fluctuations and so on, does not arise.
Moreover, it is more sustainable without the risk of vandals breaking pipes .He stated that instead of government pumping in so much money into the present set up, it would be wiser for them to use that money to set up solar farms from which residents could be supplied as is done in developed countries.
A solar farm, according to Owelle whose company is set to start manufacturing solar panels in Nigeria from next year, is a congregation of solar panels and inverters to change the direct current generated from the solar panels to alternating current which can then be fed into the grid directly. The utility company then pays for it while it supplies and bills the consumers for the services. Already, an European consortium is taking advantage of the abundant sunlight in Africa as it has put in $600 billion into the Moroccan solar desert initiative.
This a clarion call to whom it may concern and have pity on people living in Mgboba axis behind NTA PORTHARCOURT RIVERS STATE. The area in question has been suffering from untold hardship ranging from no Electricity Supply for the past four years and no access road and lately insecurity including kidnaapping. The electricity is so bad that we have forgotten that PHCN or NEPA exist. The transformers and the cables are functioning but no supply to the area. No reason is given or explanation to the residents who are ready to pay for bills whenever the officials demand for it. Even the PHCN office in the area use I pass my neighbour generator to run their office and there is no shame on them to inform the headquater of our plight. We are hoping to have the government of Rivers State promise of Electricity for all before end of last october but it seems the promise is not for this part of Portharcourt as there is no improvement what’s so ever.
Am not surprised, i will only be when the Federal Government fails to come up with it an excuse as it has always done whenever it fails to meet up with its “false promises”.
Well, I don’t know about you guys, but electricity supply has improved considerably in my area in PH over the last 2-3 months (maybe because of Afam6). I also speak to my folks in Ibadan regularly and they also said it has improved from about 1-2 hours a day which has been the situation for years now, to about 10hrs a day. I think that it a sign that generation has indeed picked up.
6,000MW is a confirmed mirage,if it happens it will be the greatest national miracle.Dont worry load of excuses is being prepared why it was not possible this December:no gas,low water level,power infracstructures have been vandalised etc.from now to 2011 they wont achieve 6,000MW so my friend stick to your gen,it will take a great miracle for 6,000MW to happen.This is just fraudulent project to steal from the people.The truth which we must all get use to even if it is very bitter is that regular power is not possible in Nigeria as long as we have these kinds of Government,it is very easy for NASA to send a man to the last planet of the universe than is possible for us to have steady supply of power,it extremely easy for a camel to pass through the eye of the tinniest needle than for us to have steady supply of power,What we will only get are fraudulent projects in which billion of dollars will be stolen and much darkness.I am not being unnecessary pessimistic but I have to accept the painful truth and facts.We have criminals who are only interested in looting and lying to you so please dont be carried away by decietful promises,steady power will never happen please accept it and only pray for a miracle.
too true Steve Jackson, paranoid as i am, i sometimes think the companies importing millions of naira worth of generators into Nigeria are paying off NEPA engineers and staff to sabotage any positive effort to solve the energy problem in the country….afterall, we are talking about billions of naira in worthless power generating equipment littering the landscape, should we have steady power supply! think about it for a minute, people. There are people, certain groups in this country, who are benefiting greatly from this man-made power problem, my opinion is that these SABOTEURS have thoroughly and comprehensively infilterated NEPA (to me they will forever remain NEPA) in such a way that it would take drastic action from a very weak and baffled FG to remove these saboteurs from the staff of NEPA. Otherwise…we shall continue to go deaf from the generator noise and develop respiratory illness from inhaling generator diesel fumes. Childhood asthma is rampant in our big cities, peopel are dying in their sleep due to inhalation of generator induced fumes, yet we say we have a GOVERNMENT ?
Nigeria is sinking very fast under mallam Umoru, may God help save this country.
It is not only a mirage but a day dream and just words. This administration is toying, with the good will the people gave them, despite the very flauwed and tinted election or rather selection of 2007. The President has shown repeatedly, that he is not equal to the task of ruling Nigeria. He has sold out to the corrupt and indicted ex governors, who put him there in the first place. The administration is pushing Nigerian to the wall and Nigerians will definitely fight back. Enough is enough and to be fore warned is to be fore armed.
Having steady supply of power in naija next month is definately not a realistic thought, when we can hardly boast of 1hr of electricity in 24hrs in most parts of the country barely a month to go.Its realy a MIRAGE.I wont be disappointed cos i never took the promise serious
How long will it take nigeria to generate power. We in diaspora are not happy.
Dr Owelle us also talking rubbish nobody can generate 6000 mw overnight nor over a construction period of several months and given the state of the distribution network maybe years more are required before each home can count on electrical power. As you cannot store solar power in vast quantities agreements would have ti be reached with off takers. Now solar power is a wonderful initiative but talk sence and give truthful time lines for deliverables especially considering the Nigerian factor of paying your way through all the approval processes. There are a lot of rich people out their making money on the lack of power