Many people reacted to last week’s column – through SMS and social media. There was a good deal of outrage after the realization that our problems are not that difficult to solve. The disagreements however, came from specific states which I said received reasonably stable electricity – such disagrements came mostly from Kano and Katsina. “We don’t enjoy electricity as you claimed,” they said.
The information about which states enjoy electricity more was based on my survey of respondents on social media – where anyone who lies can be easily called out by other people living in the same state. Therefore, the states that were mentioned last week in this column were those about which was a consensus among many people, to say nothing of my travels where I gathered my own data.
Yet, I concede that wherever you go in Nigeria, no matter how impressive the electricity situation, there are pockets of places where they don’t get any at all. For example in Kaduna, many areas enjoy stable electricity (I’ve seen this myself), but if you go to places like Rigasa, what they enjoy is almost zilch (again, I’ve seen this myself).
Even in Minna where electricity is so poor, we have a few places with good electricity – again, I should know because I once lived in the government owned Presidential Lodge where electricity was constant.
In sum, the question is whether as Nigerians we are getting the electricity we deserve. The unanimous answer is no. Following are some of the readers’ reactions.
Usman Muhammad Katagum: Lovely! And on the metering issue, I think the regulators should come out with ‘no metre no pay’ policy for the residential consumers.
Sadiq A Abdulkadir: We truly need to urgently take advantage of the alternatives. The DISCOS are not ready to service consumers optimally.
Hamza Yusuf: The governors won’t spend such.
Musa Abubakar: A way forward … Thanks Doc.
Abdullahi Kwales: This is a very good idea. I pray that the idea will soon be transferred to the state governments.
Ibrahim Danlami Aliyu: Dr Dooba, I stopped reading your lovely piece from the link you provided. Why? Because it is annoying and insulting that our power sector is in such pathetic state.
We got it very wrong from the privatization process which in anyway was shared amongst the yesterday men. Now, hear this: AEDC or any Disco will ensure metering doesn’t get to all consumers on time, why? They make more money on flat rates.
Imagine MTN Nigeria’s solar [equipment] that goes for N21,000 and a monthly subscription of N4,500 considering the platform you are subscribing to is in itself, an indication that power supply for all in Nigeria is possible in the shortest possible time.
There are many clauses in the 2004 Electricity power sector reform act EPSRA that need to be expunged for effective and accelerated power supply in Nigeria. For instance, the act stipulates that if Ambode of Lagos state installs a 500MW station, it first goes to the grid and in return, 200MW will be allocated to Lagos by National Control Center Oshogbo. So that is an impediment to many players. Again, NBET, NERC, Discos and Gencos are playing cat and mouse game with government all with a view of making money for themselves not minding Nigerians are in darkness. Unfortunately, they are getting the money from government through grants and support.
Dr Dooba, do you know AEDC requires an average 1000MW but currently receives 300MW from the grid, almost 80% of its customers are not metered yet, they keep rejecting load from the Gencos. The power sector can best be described as the more you see, the less you understand. The list is endless.There is no cogent reason Nigerians should be in darkness in this 21st century. I hope this project works. There are cabals in the sector just as in the oil and gas industry.
Xadeeq Kabo: Ibraheem Dooba, it’s a good idea to use solar power as source of electricity to [power] our states, but don’t forget our state governors are the greedy types, if you see them spending much money no doubt it’s their children’s marriage or unnecessary occasions of theirs… ALLAH kyau ta.
Sadiya Datti: This is superb. And we sincerely hope both the government at the center and state governments will work towards achieving that. May God save us from Abuja Electricity’s atrocities. Solar is just the best alternative… Nigerians have suffered enough in the hands of discos… The worst of disco in Nigeria is @aedc.
Idrees Katun: Hmmm!!! And we are suffering like this in Niger. This is serious.
Hasheem Ibraheem: This is a great finding and revelation Dr. How I wish our government can buy ur idea.
Abdurrahim Sulaiman: Enlightening, Prof.
Muhammad Awwal Bida Muhammad :I’m wordless!
Yahaya Umar: Prof, honestly we can do it. But, those who benefit hugely from these failures will do everything to frustrate the initiative. The private sector too, are not quick to think of how they can create opportunities out of these weaknesses. I think, we really need to think out of the box and deal with this problem once and for all.
Abdulrahman Awal: Good morning, this is a brilliant submission thank you Dr. Martins Ogwuegho: Thank you, Dr. Ismai’l Hasan: Thanks for the information:
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