Resolving the electricity crisis

NIGERIANS are tired of the electricity problem and they have every reason to be fed up with that power sector. Economic planners today have come to the inevitable conclusion that electricity is the key to industrialisation and yet, Nigeria does not have stable power supply.

While receiving Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Vice President of the World Bank in charge of Africa and Asia, at the state house, Abuja, President Umaru Yar’Adua said that the administration was working hard to sort out and pool together the numerous projects in the power sector to achieve a short-term target of at least 6000MW by 2009. We are told that a smaller country like South Africa generates about 40,000MW of electricity. It sounds funny but that is the reality. We do not even generate up to 6,000 MW now. We are just planning and hoping. If the witches that have been disrupting every development plan in this country strike as they have always done, we may never realise the meagre 6,000MW. There is certainty that the witches would attack because the corrupt public servants working in concert with equally corrupt contractors would make themselves available for the witches to use and at the end, scuttle the mid-term target.

Even Yar'Adua made a startling disclosure pointing to the fact that trouble was lurking on that target. He told Dr. Ezekwesili that over $10 billion was invested in the sector between 2000 and 2007 without much result. According to him, it would not make sense to pump in more money without a definite and stable project management arrangement. “While we are targeting 6000MW by 2009, the $10 bilion invested in the sector between 2000 and 2007 has not translated into power generation, transmission and distribution.So, we are exercising caution to ensure that any further funds to the sector would translate into production and delivery of energy to the ordinary Nigerian,” he said.

That is an indication that to achieve that 6,000MW, a lot of rats must be eliminated. On his current strategy, President Yar’Adua said he had deliberately decided not to put money for the power sector in the 2008 Appropriation Bill because he was wary of injecting funds that could end up not achieving the targeted result. “I have told the leadership of the National Assembly that the Federal Government will inject its share of the excess crude account into power and the states have also assured me of what they will put in. Even if all these funds come in today, I will warehouse it until we get a clear direction hopefully within the next one month after which I will send a supplementary appropriation bill specifically on power to the National Assembly. More dollars will not provide light, unless we find a project management solution,” Yar'Adua said

Memos on power generation have dominated almost all Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings in recent times. Here is part of a press briefing by Information Minister, Mr. John Odey, from the FEC meeting of 5th December 2007: “As part of the efforts of the government towards implementation of Mr. President’s seven-point agenda, council today considered mostly projects in the power sector. Council considered the design and manufacture and also the supply of transmission maintenance equipment including two number 150MVA 330/132KV power transformers with accessories and spare parts and another six number 60MVA/132/33KV power transformer in total sum of N1.4 billion with the completion period of 12 months.

“Council also considered another memo by Mr. President for the supply of combustion liners assembly for frame 9GT 18 Delta 1V at Ugheli in Sapele Power Station. This is meant to restore the unit back to service in order to improve power generation of about 100MW. Council therefore considered and approved this contract in the total sum of N77,367,95 with the completion period of six months.

“Another memo from Mr. President to boost power supply transmission was also considered.It includes four number 33 11KV power transformers and 10 sets of 11KV indoor switch gears. The purpose of this contract is to reinforce and improve electricity generation and transmission following electricity power supply deterioration. The project will be funded from the internally generated revenue of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). Council approved this contract in the sum of N164,993,198 with the completion period of 12 months.

“Also, FEC approved the supply of 10 sets of 11KV industries gears in favour of AK Electrical Ltd in the sum of N148.8 million with completion period of 12 months as well. Council also approved another memo for Delta Mac five control panels with spare parts for Ugheli Delta Electrical Power Business Unit in the sum N95.2 million with the completion period of another four months. “Council further approved various contracts for supply of power equipment to various contractors with the list already with the ministry in a total sum of N1.8 billion, listing all various spare parts to help improve the transmission of power all over the country,” Odey added.

I am sure you must have been tired after reading the last few paragraphs. All you read is KVA, MWs, and then contract sum. But the people are asking, where is the light? Indeed, it would be better if the president can reduce his seven-point agenda to one. Let us have a one point-agenda– electricity and let us concentrate on it, using massive attack, massive defence and ensuring that we have 18 hours of uninterrupted power supply nationwide by the end of Yar'Adua's first term. It will be beautiful if we start noticing the improvements from March this year, that is, immediately after the harmattan.