Prof Yemi Osiinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice-President revealed that the federal government was planning to generate 7,000 megawatts of electricity for the nation within the next 18 months. Prof Osinbajo who made this disclosure at the presentation of a book entitled: Nigeria: The Challenges of Growth and Development, an In-Depth Analysis by Experts, held at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, noted that power remained a major challenge confronting the present administration and the federal government was determined to solve it. He lamented the poor electricity supply in the country, which he blamed on gas pipelines vandals who prevent the conveying of gas to the various power plants.
Much as we welcome the desire of the government to find a solution to the lingering problem of electricity supply, nevertheless there is scepticism on the ability of the government to bring this to fruition. What is the guarantee that government will meet the set target of 7,000 megawatts within the next 18 months? Is there a clear roadmap for the power sector, aimed at achieving this goal?
For long, Nigerians have heard so many failed promises by successive governments to improve electricity supply in the country. It all began with the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, under whom late Chief Bola Ige served as Minister of Power and Steel. Chief Ige, who was appointed in July 1999, had promised Nigerians that by December of the same year, “power fluctuation would be a thing of the past,” but this promise was unfulfilled by December 1999. Senator Lyel Imoke who replaced late Chief Ige as Minister of Power and Steel also promised Nigerians that “by 2007 Nigeria would be generating 10,000 megawatts of power.” At the time former President Obasanjo left office in 2007, an estimated $16 billion had been allegedly expended in the power sector with no visible improvement in electricity supply.
During the electioneering in 2007, the then Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua vowed to declare a state of emergency in the power sector, if he was elected president. Eventually, he was elected but instead of declaring a state of emergency in the power sector as he promised, he gave a target of 6,000 megawatts by December 2009; a promise which the government could not fulfilled.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who succeeded Yar’Adua, thereafter appointed Prof. Bath Nnaji as Minister of Power. Prof. Nnaji told Nigerians that he would achieve 5,000 megawatts by December, 2011 and increase the supply in subsequent years. That promise also failed like the ones made previously. At the exit of former President Jonathan from office in 2015, an accumulated N2.74 trillion was allegedly sank into the power sector for 16 years with a mere 5,000 megawatts as evidence of electricity generated during this period.
Only recently, President Muhammadu Buhari said his administration has set a target of delivering 10,000 megawatts of electricity generation in the next three years beginning with the addition of 2,000 megawatts to the national grid in 2016.And that pledge has not been realised, yet the first quarter of 2016 has come and gone! Nigerians are certainly tired of unfulfilled promises. We believe what they want at the moment is a concerted action for adequate power generation, transmission and distribution, which would translate into regular electricity supply to their homes, offices and industries.
Perhaps there is need for a sustainable roadmap for the development of the power sector. Indeed, there is no better time than now for a national gas development plan that would ease the supply of gas to the various power plants across the country. Additionally, an articulated security system that would forestall the recurrent vandalism of gas pipelines and power equipment should be put in place.
Considering the various failed promises made by past administrations, we feel the present government should walk the talk on electricity generation and supply instead of engaging on repetitive promises that may not come to pass.
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