Ensuring stable power supply in Nigeria

Writer: Olayinka Alaya

Topic Ensuring stable power supply in Nigeria

The desire of every government is to provide infrastructural facilities and basic needs of the people, such as, good road network, electricity, development of agriculture sector, provision of qualitative education at all levels, water, transportation, healthcare facilities, among others.

These basic needs and infrastructure are what Nigerians have been clamouring for, as majority of them are suffering for lack of  these facilities as some Governments are fond of making promises without result.

The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, told the House of Representatives Committee on Power that the attainment of ten thousand mega watts of electricity before the end of this year would be possible if more money is made available to the ministry to carry out its statutory functions.

The Minister also told the committee that the Ministry and six other agencies under the ministry had proposed ninety two billion naira budget for this year.

The question that will come to the minds of Nigerians is why the ministry needs such huge amount when the Power Holding Company of Nigeria had been sold to Independent private bodies. Also, where is the money realized from the sales of the Company and why is the Federal Government still funding the Company.

 It is devastating that government continues to spend huge money on Power without yielding positive result. The mega watts have been fluctuating, dropping from four thousand mega watts to two thousand, a situation that subjects Nigerians to total blackout.

Many Nigerians have turned to the use of generating sets, which according to environmental and health experts, is harmful to the environment and health of the people and causing hazard. According to them, the fumes originating from the generating sets, have led to widespread and outbreak of diseases.

It is significant to note that, a situation whereby Nigerians are spending millions to import generating sets and fueling them is uncalled for.

According to an expert, the increasing rate of pipeline vandalism is another impediment in the projected national stable power supply situation in Nigeria.

Nigerian government needs to brace up and alleviate the sufferings of the people by re invigorating our refineries and ensuring that crude oil is refining in the country, why efforts should be geared up to put an end to vandalism. This will also help to stop the lingering scarcity of fuel in the country.

Therefore, it is pertinent to state, that the Federal government should be more serious with the power sector. Stable power supply will attract both local and foreign investors to the country, it will increase the wellbeing of the people.

          All hands must be on deck to ensure that Nigeria’s lost glory is revived. Nigerians must be more committed to the development of the country and work towards making it a better place for all that we would be proud of and other countries can emulate.