Early this year, I was excited to experience a semblance of steady supply of electricity which for me was a sign of ‘fresher’ things to come.
The news of the recent re-streaming of Kainji Dam was therefore a welcome development but it seems to have no meaning because, as I write, sounds from different generators are dancing in the air spitting choking fumes and smells.
Rather than ‘‘embarrass’’ Nigerians with fresh actions to freshen our firmament, all sorts of explanations are being offered for the failure of government to meet set targets in the energy sector. Therefore, the recent sack of some ‘gbogons’ in PHCN comes as a pleasant surprise.
In the world of energy/power, the level of megawatts produced/generated is vital. Unfortunately, like politics, the word has been generally used/abused by various individuals/agencies in such a way that, if it was a musical number, it would have hit a ‘‘platinum.’’
Attempts at updating Nigerians of their almighty national electricity grid and the level of megawatts ‘‘pushed into’’ it, makes one wonder whether we shall overcome the numerous challenges we are facing in the energy sector within the tenure of this administration.
In this regard, memories of the late Chief Bola Ige come to mind.
When appointed as the Minister of Power, he addressed the nation on changing the fortunes of the energy sector in Nigeria positively.
The day of his scheduled address could be likened to one of those great shows where top-rated artists were billed to perform.
Like millions of Nigerians, I abandoned whatever I was doing to rush back home to watch him LIVE on television. The rest, as we commonly say, is now history.
It may shock you to know that, in various homes/compounds in Nigeria, ‘‘quiet’’ wars are being fought daily by neighbours using their generator sets.
Even when not needed, some tenants deliberately switch on their electric generators to inflict pains on their neighbours via the sound and fumes they emit.
In some places, there’s an assumption that, the noisier the sound from one’s generator, the more regard and attention the owner enjoys.
You could hear people in the neighbourhood say, ‘‘Na im get dat big jenereto.’’ Noise pollution is not a problem.
As part of this war, a neighbour wilfully directs the exhaust of his generator at the windows of his neighbour so that emitting fumes work havoc on his behalf.
When I paid a private visit to a family friend in Kado-Abuja recently, we hardly could hear out ourselves as we discussed because of the huge noise from different electric generators.
He told me not to bother because whenever he switches on his electric generator, I will appreciate the stuff it was made of. Immediately he switched it on, the building shook to it foundation.
The mind-wrecking sound it lets out drowned that of his neighbours put together. He asked, ‘Wetin yu si? Mai jenereto an dia oun na di sem? Wi no de fo di sem levul. Mai jenereto big pas dia oun.’’
If democracy is a form of government usually taunted as the most favourite in the world, why shouldn’t it work in Nigeria where most institutions of government are carefully fashioned after the United States’ and other functional democracies/economies.
Being intelligent and highly respected, Nigerians hold their heads high anywhere in the world. Some of the best paper presenters in conferences/seminars around the world are Nigerians.
No need to mention that thousands of them hold professorial chairs in universities abroad. Unfortunately, back home in Nigeria, electricity generation and its supply are twin challenges past governments couldn’t address and the present government is still addressing. The following question bothers me.
How do Nigerians feel whenever they travel abroad to find that basic utilities like water, electricity etc are truly basic and fundamental?
While millions of Nigerians await stable supply of electricity to their homes, the attention of government is being impacted negatively by all kinds of security challenges.
If after four years, this government fails to deliver on its promise to fix various energy challenges in this country, there is no doubt that, the first excuse will be Boko Haram. We will likely hear that part of the monies budgeted for reforms in the power sector were channelled to security and other exigencies.
Of course, without security, there will be no peace. It’s only when there’s peace that development will come. And this bla bla bla will be taken up like a change of baton in a relay race by another government.
Why should Nigerians be building other nations while their country cannot solve her energy crises for decades?
If we boast to one another that the electric generator we own is bigger than that of our neighbours, can we say we are progressing?
If politics is meant to provide good life to its citizens, is it serving this purpose here? When shall we get out of this mess of megawaz an megajaz. Grama don taya mi! Na so wi go de de?
SOURCE: EDWIN ERIATA ORIBHABOR
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