It really would not be out of place to say that generators are the new Lever Brothers products of now, which goes with the slogan: "one in every home".
The song of inadequate power supply is no longer an oddity to Nigerians but the comedy that comes with the lies of public office holders in deceiving the entire Nigerian population about facts that concern this is.
Recently, the president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour claimed that Nigerians are impressed with the current level of improvement in power. It is an open truth that electricity demand in Nigeria far outstrips the supply and even the supply the supply is not evenly distributed; Also,the current national demand is estimated at 16000MW but we are curently on 4500mMW and our beloved president said we are quite pleased and impressed?Who is deceiving who?
The occupants of Aso rock and its surrounding might be pleased with the level of power supply but can the reader of this piece says he or she is pleased and impressed with his or her own power supply experience, Mr president?
Almost before I could get over the president's uncalled flattery, the Information Minister, Labaran Maku,came out with his own gibberish, saying in his words: "At the moment,Nigerians now enjoy an average of about 18hours of constant power supply per day in different parts of the country".
Yes, electricity in some areas like my own has moved from experiencing a 30-minute power supply to a fairly 3-4hours per day but it is a pity that some areas dont even experience a 30-minute low voltage in a day!
Prof Sambo, CEO, Energy Commission of Nigeria, privatisation is the only solution to the power crunch. Now permit me to ask; With all the privatising and having the GENCOs (generation companies) and the DISCOs (distribution companies,do you now enjoy at least 15hours of power supply in your own home?
I was privileged to spend two weeks in an area in Ogun state some time ago and I was pretty surprised at the rate at which electricity was constant. When I made my astonishment known, my host told me that a popular politician lives around the area, and anytime he is in town, power supply is always stable and when he is out, it is the opposite.True to this,some few days later,electricity was interrupted and the last five days I spent there was in darkness as there was no flash of electricity whatsoever which obviously suggests that the politician was out of town again.
That scenerio sounds like one from Nollywood? This brings to mind that most of the happenings are stage-managed and the "yes man" attitude of Nigerians has totally given public office holders opportunities to lie about many glaring issues and go scotfree.
Micheal Afuwape, an architect in Lagos said lightlessness is a deliberate construct of generator imposters who at the same time own the pump stations.That the Nigerian power sector has persistently been erratic and running with a shortfall,in spite of heavy funding and despite the availability of abundant coal,natural gas,hydro power and inexhaustible solar power, remains not
only laughable but amusing.
With all the dramas and deceits that come with electricity in Nigeria, If you need to get a house,and you need to make a list of what you will need in the new apartment, what number will a generator be on your list?
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