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Nigeria Power Puzzle: The Gospel Truth
Related to country: Nigeria

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NIGERIA POWER CRISIS: THE GOSPEL TRUTH
As a right thinking Nigerian who highly understands the multiplied effect on an inefficient and pipe drain power monopoly known as PHCN on the economy, foreign investment, real sector, small medium enterprises, socio-economic living and so on, I have always cogitated about why the giant and heart of Africa still revels in darkness despite abundance of all sources of power generation - coal, oil, gas, water, wind, uranium etc and also the funding capacity. It is highly demeaning that lesser economies on the continent and power sources bereft nations have cross the adequate power infrastructure hurdle. I had a rare opportunity late last year provided by my university to visit the Osogbo power substation which also houses the facility for power distribution across states in Nigeria.
I was extremely elated because as an electrical/ electronics engineer to be in the next few months, I was always unhappy about my negligible practical knowledge in power systems engineering despite my sound knowledge in IT and telecoms. I jumped to the offer organized by my lecturer Mr. S.G Oyagbinrin and was prepared to take the 3 hours journey from Abeokuta, my university town to Osogbo. On arrival, I was moved at the metallic structural height and array of electrical trusses made up of transmission lines, reactors, isolators, transformers, communication lines and so on. I was too anxious to know why and why Nigeria still faces this malignant albatross even though the known ulterior motive of the visit was to gain practical knowledge. After few speeches on areas of operations and organogram which were of little concern to me, we proceeded to the central building where load shedding, power management and frequency control takes place. A dozen of questions were asked by the eager students either as a reflection of their naivety or unpolished knowledge. The knowledge I gathered which has influenced my thinking and few analysis are as follows: I learnt that for over ten years, military garrison government never spent a kobo to develop the power infrastructure and its future demand despite the burgeoning population. I found out that the draconian power sector act which centralized the power entirety which was expunged with a power sector bill in 2005 has limited private sector participation.
It is obvious that since the 4th republic, a lot of noise has been made on the urgent need to improve the power sector and I was told that an overnight magic is impossible. The speeches of the power engineers also reflected that a conscientious approach devoid of corruption needs to be followed. It is known by hindsight that power sector reforms mantra were just a ruse and a ploy to amuse the citizens and subject them to forlorn hope. The Ndidi Elumelu panel has shown that power sector fund was just shared as public loot among government cronies, foreign saboteurs and ministry officials. The conflicting figures, contractors’ profiles, inexistent or unregistered companies say it all. I found out that the transmission monopoly and the unbundled distribution zones do not have the necessary capacity to transmit the maximum power demand which is put at 10000MW. I began to find out that why power can’t be deregulated like telecoms sector but multiplicity of power vendors will not guarantee safety due to placement of transmission lines, its was termed unadvisable. So my wonder still continued that despite the amount of money spent on the NIPP and the outrageous boast a former information minister at every forum, why we still grope in darkness? I had to point accusing fingers to economic saboteurs who aided massive importation of diesel and those who are profiteering from lucrative business importation of generators. I suspect that a clique of business cabals have been coalescing with ex-government to secretly frustrate the power sector reform through pipeline vandalism, bureaucracy, improper contract award and other disgusting overtures.
After so much analysis about the irritating state of power sector, we need to find an amicable solution. My own view is that the centralization of power cant bring the relief needed to the average Nigerian .The large number of gas fired station represents no solution has they will continually be tool of pipeline vandals orchestrated by the societal crooks in the name of Niger delta militancy or inadequate gas supplies. We need to decentralize power generation by trying out micro generation units to every home and every state to find means to offset its energy problems. A government supported mass produced micro solar power generation solution backed with high level of research or a wind power generation backed up with adequate fossil fuel generation is a clear hybrid solution. Solar power for small communities and homes backed with back up from centralized monopoly at peak /low intensity periods will be advisable while PHCN primarily provides power to industries, real sector and businesses communities at their own peak periods or noon. The truth is that a government backed solar power initiative will be affordable by average Nigerians and utility bills from PHCN will be billed through smart prepaid metering. The solutions may look quixotic but it represents an immediate solution to power paralysis in Nigeria. Though despite the global action against fossil fuel technology and need to increase renewable power technology, Nigeria needs to heavily invest in fossil based sources primarily and take a holistic view with nuclear and renewable technology in the nearest future. There is need for Nigerian government to meet with countries such as Denmark which has proven level of development in power solutions and peak period management which has ensured self sufficiency and export to four EU countries.
We need a sincere approach from all stakeholders – private sectors, governments (state& federal), the public and allow our past public officers who have disabused the reform process by impairing our collective hope to bury their ugly faces in shame. We need a pragmatic solution devoid of nepotism, bureaucracy, negligence, greed and other vices that take us a decade backward. Optimum standards, accurate and attractive billing to attract foreign investors should be our target. I wonder if we have given global power vendor giants such as RWE, Centrica, e.on $10bn, we will have gotten a bit farther.
We listened with rapt attention to the lecture of the power station engineers and surprisingly how dejected they feel about a nation’s dilemma. I felt ashamed chorusing curses on the power engineers for decades during blackouts as they were also heavily incapacitated. We were bored with the rhetoric of power sector quagmire and we thought we needed to cool off at Erin Osun Waterfalls but our lecturer and some students still wanted more. I thought I learnt enough on power grid transmission, load shedding, frequency control and the power problems, I needed to join the fun lovers and disappointingly due to a clash of interests, we left for Abeokuta with different automobiles with the majority for merry making. A day of mixed feelings - nature’s perfection at the sight of waterfalls, mortals failure at the thought of PHCN.

Oluseun Onigbinde B.Eng is a prolific consultant and speaker on ICT, power and environmental issues. For comments and enquiries contact mobile: +2348024033857 & oluseunonigbinde@yahoo.com


April 12, 2008 | 1:41 PM Comments  0 comments

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