The most critical component of President Umar Musa Yar’Adua’s seven-point agenda for the economic emancipation of Nigeria is the declaration of energy emergency. The proposed drastic measure in the electricity power sector is aimed at addressing the debilitating effect of lack of stable public electricity power supply which has become the most widely acknowledged culprit responsible for Nigeria’s socio-economic underdevelopment.
Before the Ndudi Elumelu-led (Committee) National Assembly probe of the energy sector, revealing the colossal amount of money so far appropriated or misappropriated by government for the provision of electricity for the comfort of citizens, and efficient/effective operations of offices and factories, Nigerians did not realise how deep in financial sleaze and malfeasance the sector had sunk. The whopping sum of $6 – $10 billion being cited as having been spent just on Independent Power Projects (IPPs) in the dying days of the immediate past administration, is mind-boggling and dizzying, especially since the only thing the average Nigerian seems to have gotten as Return on Investment (ROI), for such venture or misadventure by government, has been untimely deaths of children, young women and men as well as aged people from across the country, who in the absence of power from the public utility, PHCN, now resort to the use of electricity generating plants whose fumes have led to their untimely deaths due to carbon monoxide inhalation and poisoning.
Granted that past governments have let Nigerians down due to their abysmal performance in the energy sector as reflected in the frequency of total blackouts and epileptic supply of electricity to homes, offices and factories, what has the average Nigerian done or failed to do to alleviate the sorry situation? This question is justified by the fact that in any relationship, there are usually two or more parties that have to discharge their obligations for the deal to be consummated. Undeniably, government has failed to discharge its obligations of ensuring stable energy supply as part of its social contract with the citizenry. But, has the average Nigerian played his or her role in the social contract equitably? The obvious answer, in my considered opinion, is that Nigerian electricity consumers have not risen to the occasion by conserving the small amount available as their counterparts are doing in other climes.
To appreciate the full import of the above assertion, let’s put the global energy crisis in perspective. Following the recent astronomical increase in pump price of petroleum products in the developed societies of U.S.A., EU and Asia, which is a direct consequence of the war on terrorism in the Middle East, hitherto the biggest global source of fossil fuel, motorists in the developed world have been making the sacrifice of converting their fuel powered cars to electric cars by adding more batteries to drive their car engines to save cost. This is in addition to the dumping of their fuel guzzling SUVs like Lincoln Navigator for fuel efficient hybrids cars like Toyota Prius. Another measure taken to manage the high cost of fuel is solar powered cells which now adorn the rooftops of most homes in the western world, in the bid to save cost on energy for heating. These individual efforts are complementary to institutional measures already being taken by automakers and related industry players which have made huge advances in the replacement of fossil fuel driven cars with hybrid cars which use both fuel and electricity. Coupled with this is the race for alternative to fossil fuel such as the conversion of some staple food items like rice, maize and sugar cane into ethanol to drive cars.
Now compare these noble and bold steps taken by the individuals in the other parts of the world listed above to the ‘siddon look’ attitude of most Nigerians towards the challenge of inadequate energy supply that has plagued Nigeria since the country embarked on self-rule in 1960.
Although power outages resulting in total blackouts during important national ceremonies have been with us in the past 40 years or more, that national embarrassment degenerated to an alarming proportion when the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) recently acknowledged that total level of electricity power available for distribution nationwide has dropped to below 2,000 megawatts, in a country where the minimum electricity power requirement is in excess of seven thousand 7,000 megawatts.
Unlike their counterparts in U.S.A., Europe or Asia who have been seeking alternative ways and means of saving on energy cost, Nigerians have been more or less aloof to the malaise of unstable power supply in Nigeria. Except the Government efforts of establishing the controversial Independent Power Projects, which are yet to be commissioned, the only thing that the average Nigerian has done is make jest of the former public utility company – National Electric Power Authority, whose acronym NEPA, has been mischievously referred to as Never Expect Power Always. So instead of developing alternative patterns of consumption, Nigerians have rather engaged in parodying the company responsible for keeping them in perpetual darkness. Some have attributed this lackadaisical and unproductive attitude of aloofness by most Nigerians towards the energy crisis to the culture of waiting for government to do everything for the citizens as opposed to doing some things for themselves. Obviously, most Nigerians have not taken to heart, the famous admonition by former U.S. President, John F Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”
Yes, Nigerians have taken their personal protection into their hands by setting up barricades around their homes in the bid to secure lives and properties due to absence of guaranteed protection from the police, and it is true also that once in a while, Nigerians through communal efforts tar their roads to facilitate transportation, just as there have been occasions where individuals and communities sink boreholes for the provision of potable water in Nigerian towns and villages where government failed to provide safe water. So l’m not being dismissive of the genuine efforts and ability of the average Nigerian to survive the prevailing harsh environment in this country. Rather, l am trying to draw attention to what we can do as a people, collectively before the much expected energy emergency declaration by President Yar’Adua.
Although the expensive and environment-polluting alternative use of generating plants for electricity supply, earns Nigeria the unenviable toga of being one of the world’s largest importers of power generating sets, Nigeria’s scarce foreign exchange is also being unnecessarily depleted since electricity generating plants are not manufactured locally. Unlike the giant power generating sets belching black smoke into the atmosphere dotting the entire Nigerian homes and industrial environments, solar energy panels are hardly seen on Nigerian roof tops despite the fact that Nigeria, and indeed Africa, have comparative advantage in sunshine over the U.S.A., Europe and Asia where they are now being widely used. Another alternative to electricity generation which gained currency in Nigeria is Inverter – a system that relies on battery-charged energy. But it is not as widely used as it should, to reduce reliance on hydro and thermal power generated electricity which is the main source of power in Nigeria. One of the factors that could aid the adoption of power and energy conservation attitude in Nigeria is publicity of latest developments and individual/institutional accomplishments in the sector to inspire or spur others to join in the revolution.
It is by no means an exaggeration to say that the wide use of solar power, wind energy and ethanol fuel in the U.S.A., Europe and Asia is as a result of the ventilation of the innovations in the sector by the mass media in those regions of the world. So, awareness creation is a potential major driver of culture of energy efficiency.
For instance, very few people in Nigeria are aware that the condensed fluorescent light bulbs popularly referred to as energy saving bulbs; consume only 18 watts of power compared to the traditional light bulbs which use between 40 to 60 watts. This might seem like small fry compared to the 12,000 to 15,000 megawatts experts believe Nigeria needs to achieve energy sufficiency, but by using the energy saving bulbs, an average household which has about 20 power points of 60 watts per point, could drastically save cost in energy consumption. That is 60 x 20 = 1,200 watts compared to 18 x 20 = 360 watts. When you deduct 360 watts from 1,200 watts, the balance is 840 watts in savings for one household. Extrapolate that figure for at least 60 million homes and offices across Nigeria, where such massive savings can be made, and then imagine the amount of energy savings that could be achieved if Nigerians were aware of the benefits. That is not all.
How many Nigerians know that leaving their equipment/gadgets-TVs, ovens, fridges, computers, etc, on standby mode, could lead to unnecessary waste of power since these electronic gadgets continue to consume power even in standby mode? Also since most of the folks in the rural areas do not pay electricity bills owing to cumbersome and inefficient payment system, some don’t bother with switching off street lights and external lights in their houses in the afternoon because they do not get to pay the bills. Perhaps, with the recent introduction of pre-paid metres, most Nigerian power consumers – who are already feeling the pinch of the high cost of electricity in their pockets, since it is now pay-as-you-go – may become more energy efficient. If nothing else, the cost factor may compel imprudent electricity consumers to unplug their gadgets and switch off light bulbs when not needed.
If the ordinary folks are feeling the pinch, how is business coping?
Dunlop, one of the major tyre manufacturing companies in Nigeria has just folded up its business in Nigeria essentially due to inability to sustain production owing to astronomical cost of energy which is a major input. Prior to Dunlop packing up, Michelin, another tyre manufacturer had gone comatose for basically the same reason. Now, the consequence of this spate of factory closures, of which Michelin and Dunlop are symbolic, is loss of jobs by Nigerians to other nationals where the factories have been re-located. This explains the view by experts that, energy shortage is one of the major factors making Nigerian companies, uncompetitive and disadvantaged compared to her neighbours like Ghana, Benin Republic and Cameroon, for instance.
Happily, business is taking its own responsibility, as signified by the electrical sectoral group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce, which recently declared intention to invest in an independent power project to ameliorate the pains of its members.
The real point here is that shortage of energy challenge in Nigeria, is everyone’s problem. So all hands must be on deck to fight the malaise.
This is why, before Yar’Adua’s energy emergency declaration, Nigerians – both corporate and individual – should make the commitment of becoming more energy-efficient, and that decision should be made, not only because it is patriotic, but it is also economic.