Electricity supply experience, energy affordability and Nigeria 

Energy scarcity appears (from every considered analytical probe made on the power sector) to be the root cause of the power supply crisis facing the Nigerian economy. Non availability and insufficient electricity supply in the country, no doubt, ought to be traced to the source of the matter; as a sure way of solving the problem (which obviously is not unconnected with the systemic corruption within the economy, external influence of suppression against the continent or neocolonialism from the West). This particular issue demands the urgency it requires because the nation’s economy cannot get any better unless this aspect of energy supply challenge is squarely tackled, dealt with and properly addressed; acknowledging the fact that energy is life and the fuel that drives prosperity.

Energy poverty on its own is synonymous with the present insufficient electricity supply that consumers are grappling with on a daily basis (vis-a-viz the very frequent and chronic power outages that has become endemic with total blackout from the power sector of the economy). The hope-rising assurances though, come from the fact that natural gas-based electric power generation operation is more than possible, and could be practically improved upon in this economy. Classical example has been expressly exhibited by the establishment of the Aba power plant (worth eight hundred million US Dollars, $800 million or today’s ten billion naira, N10 billion), built by the Geometric Power Engineering Company that was recently commissioned in the South East geopolitical zone of the country. 

The current challenges from the power sector, which involves the eleven power distribution companies (DisCos), not supplying enough or sufficiently to meet the demands of consumers, is a case of insufficient generation of electrical energy within the economy (by the existing six electricity generating companies, the GenCos). We have to call a spade a spade, no need beating about the bush. Whatever that is produced and fed to the national grid is just what the distribution companies can afford to supply the consumers. It is on this premise therefore, that I hold a divergent opinion on how the power challenges facing this economy can be resolved. I come from the perspective of addressing the issue of insufficient production or generation of electricity because in it lies the bedrock of the nation’s economic prosperity. To discuss or debate bands A, B, C, or whatever is what I term speaking mere ‘long grammar’. The reason for this position is that daily economic activities within the economy, which includes manufacturing, will be seriously affected unfavourably due to energy insufficiency to power local manufacturing. Whether the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) hikes the power tariff 240 percent (from N68/kilowatt hour to N225/kilowatt hour) should not be the main issue of concern but, to beat energy scarcity (energy poverty within the economy) and permanently address the nagging electricity supply crisis within the economy. The drivers of this aspect of electricity production and generation need to be patriotic, proactive and practical about this. The existing power GenCos ought to make good with their respective natural gas-based electric power generation facilities. Geometric has broken the jinx by showing a very good example with the Aba power plant.

All consumers (including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, for domestic or private uses in households) primarily need to be sufficiently serviced with uninterruptible power supply that ought to be affordable at the same time, in terms of pricing. As a matter of fact, it is the utilisation of the natural gas that shall play the critical role in accelerating speedy economic growth and industrial development in Nigeria (as remarked by the group chief executive officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari). Value addition to our locally sourced raw materials (both agricultural and mineral resources) from all African nations should be taken as high priority against the evil suppression of neocolonialism, where Africa has only been fundamentally programmed to the global prosperity of advanced countries, by remaining only a raw materials producer, and which the West has vowed never to allow African countries prosper economically as finished products manufacturers. Relying solely on the West for their high premium export goods that are primarily processed from raw materials that are 100 percent sourced from African continent; with almost little or no appreciable value and worth accruing to the continent at the global market, when compared with the volume of international trade activities globally. As a matter of necessity, a good number of Nigerians should stick their necks out for patriotism’s sake and make sure that the energy sector gets improved, for the sake of the nation’s economic growth and development. 

High inflation, non affordability of electric energy, epileptic power supply to consumers within our domestic economy need to be adequately addressed by the government, by making sure that the likes of Geometric power generating plants are established in all the six geopolitical zones of the nation; with adequately backed natural gas-based energy generation that shall put paid to the embarrassing incessant power outages that create endemic hiccups in local manufacturing operations. It is only the actualisation of seamless local manufacturing of competitive export goods and services for the global market that will usher in steady economic growth and development within the economy.

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