Epileptic national grid in Nigeria: The way forward

It is now commonplace to hear about the collapse of the national grid in Nigeria. In short, the news is now a periodic ritual. And for a country like Nigeria with all its potentials to be galloping with power in the name of national grid collapse is to say the least pathetic. Countries within our neighborhood we often refer to as smaller nations have since left us behind in terms of steady power supply.

Records have it that Nigeria has recorded about 140 national grid collapses since 2013 when the National Electricity Power Authority (NEPA) was unbundled and still counting. In first quarter of 2024 alone, Nigeria has recorded two national grid collapses, one on 4/2/2024 and  the other on 28/3/2024. One may now ask,what is the real problem? The country generates 4,000MW of electricity for a population of approximately 200m people. This is a far cry! What do we think 4,000MW will do for such a gargantuan population? Only God will save us!

According to reports, the Federal Government is targeting about 30,000MW in 2030. But experts say Nigeria needs about 33,000MW of electricity supply with its current population to be comfortable. Until that is achieved, it remains a dream. Now that power has been put into the concurrent list, states should wake up and embark on power generation projects to fill the existing gap created by the big brother, the Federal Government. It is not enough for states and local governments to continue to cry wolf when actually they can do something about the problem.

What are the effects of frequent national grid collapse? When there is a power outage, companies and organisations must provide their outfits with alternative power supply. That is, diesel or petrol.  This will automatically increase the cost of production. Private companies with little or no stamina to absorb the extra cost will close shop and the economy will be impacted negatively on. Workforce will be reduced or entirely laid off. Unemployment will creep in with its attendant factors of restiveness, social vices, and outright insurgency.

The country will start grappling with insecurity and its allies. Money that would have been spent on developmental projects will now be channelled to security, just as we have now. Lack of power equally brings about lack of social amenities, such as lack of potable water, healthcare services and poor infrastructures.In a situation like this, investors will take flight and the economy will collapse. We pray that our situation in the country does not get to this stage, because that will amount to a socio-economic crisis that no nation longs to experience.

What is the way out? The reason is that wishes and prayers are not economic strategies. The remedy of course is within our reach. The operators of the power sector often complain of gas supply challenges. The question is who is holding the gas from being supplied? Are there rough curves that should be smoothened in the contractual agreements? Who is responsible for tidying up such spots? It is a matter of putting the round peg in a round hole and the results will be natural.

There must also be commitment, patriotism on the part of the supervising agencies. Enough political will must be generated to drive these processes. This, of course, boils down to good leadership. And we strongly believe that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu-led Federal government is out to provide that. So there is nothing stopping us from achieving any goal we set for ourselves.

Another cause of national grid collapse is poor transmission. Others are poor infrastructures, vandalism, and liquidity crisis. These problems are not insurmountable.  All hands must therefore be on deck to achieve this.