By Kayode Emola
With volatile oil prices and uncertain supply, the world is facing a huge challenge on how to keep the lights on. Many advanced countries are now looking at renewable energy generation and distribution as the eco-friendly alternative for the very sustenance of our planet. The only problem is, how do you build such infrastructure in such a short time to cater for the need of the large population.
In the case of Nigeria, after 60 years of independence, we have still not been able to get out of the blackout conundrum. If any nation will develop in this 21st century, then electricity generation and distribution must be pivotal in any of their national planning. On the contrary, this important sector has been left to rot in Nigeria and the entire economy is suffering from the effect. This week I have enlisted the help of Mr Alex Ajala to help us shed some light into the challenges and opportunities facing the electricity generation and distribution in Nigeria to help us understand how we can tackle this vital resource for our Yoruba nation.
Electricity: The Ugly Truth in Nigeria
The basis for socio-economic growth and development in any country is tied to the fundamental principle of the presence of critical infrastructure. Critical infrastructure includes the following, Electricity, Water supply into homes for domestic, industrial use, and agriculture. Roads, Railway, Communication, and information technology.
In modern times, Electricity is the key that enables industrial and economic growth. It is the engine that make automation, creativity and innovation possible. The world will forever be grateful to Edison and Tesla competitive battle in introducing “Alternate Current and Direct Current.” For industrial, commercial, and domestic usage.
It is sad that Nigeria rather than develop a sustainable growth in power distribution has subtly ignored the effect of this on the economy. Currently the available installed capacity is about 13,000MW (This is barely enough for Lagos alone (based on an estimated population of 21,000,000) for her industrial commercial and domestic needs). Of this generated capacity, less than 3,000MW is available for distribution for the whole country. In addition, the National grid is now incapable of carrying power safely for distribution therefore, power outage is now the norm.
The much-vaulted introduction meters and prepaid meters for household connections is actually paid for by the household themselves rather than the distribution companies. Even, the connection cables and posts are paid for by the people. Is this what we call a developing economy? I bet your guess is as good as mine. The effect of this abandonment has led to most productive companies closing or relocating to other countries such as Ghana.
Dams and reservoirs in Nigeria are built for use as irrigation, water supply, hydro-electric power generation or some combination in several parts of the country. They are of particular importance in the north of the country, where rainfall is low. In Nigeria, a total of seventeen dams are constructed and out of these, only four are located in southern Nigeria. Two of them are in Oyo States and the remaining two are in Ogun and Osun State respectively.
The Asejire Dam in Oyo State for instance was constructed with a Hydro Electric power plant in mind. The vision of the State then was that the Dam will provide the power to pump and deliver treated water to Ibadan and environs. It was to provide electricity to feed Ibadan and other towns and villages around. However, the Federal Government ordered that the plant be removed and the reason given was that such development was under the exclusive list of which the Federal government has sole authority.
In an independent Yoruba nation, there would not exist a case of exclusive or inclusive lists as developments will target the people and there would a free market. Existing assets like the four dams we have will be deployed to full capacity to begin operations for the effective generation and distribution of electricity. A new Yoruba Sovereign Nation will start with a conscious policy and plan to restore and upgrade all abandoned water reservoirs and water works to provide hydropower, water for irrigation, and water for domestic use in homes and not in the streets.
If properly managed, the Yoruba nation could generate over 4,000 MW of Electricity through hydro-electric power generation within the first two years of our emergence as a Sovereign Nation. Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his government saw the need for rural electrification and established the first rural electrification project in Western Region at Ijero Ekiti in present day Ekiti State.
The vision was to create a liveable environment in the rural areas of Western region. With electricity availability in the rural areas, stability of population becomes a norm and ultimately reduces the mass rural to urban migration. Many industries can be situated in rural communities to process some agricultural produce which will ease their transportation to urban centres for processing.
There is therefore no doubt, that the issues surrounding power outage in Nigeria is sabotaged on the people by the government. The Yoruba people must understand that for us to be counted as a serious nation, then there is the need to establish our own Sovereign Nation to enable the development that we truly deserve. Nigeria as a nation has no will power to tackle the electricity crises, therefore the onus is on us to decide once and for all to take our destiny in our own hands.
Special Credit – Mr Alex Ajala
