By Francis Ewherido
On March 17, 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari, signed a historic amendment bill, moving electricity from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list. The amendment makes it legally possible for state governments to make laws to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in their states. It was a turning moment for Nigeria because electricity being on the exclusive, in my opinion, is one of the reasons why Nigeria has been unable to generate enough electricity for its citizens.
Our power situation has become a source of huge national embarrassment and made us a laughing stock among countries which ordinarily should be quiet when they hear the name Nigeria. They call us a generator republic. It hurts because we have no business being in this mess. When we returned to democratic rule in 1999, I thought, we would be generating a minimum, 30,000 megawatts by now. Egypt surpassed this figure and did it with about the amount we are hearing that has been spent on the power sector since 1999.
Between 2012 and 2013, I spent about three months cumulatively in India. I noticed that all big businesses and hospitals had generators. The only difference was that they kept their generators on rooftops. There was power cut only four times during my stay. They have probably achieved uninterrupted power supply by now because they have increased capacity tremendously since then. This thing is not rocket science; it is easily achievable with single-mindedness and transparency.
Anyway, my focus today is on Delta State. The Delta State House of Assembly just passed Delta State Electricity Power Sector Bill, 2024. Considering the importance of electricity to Delta State, I expect the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to quickly accent to the bill to make it a law. The key provisions of the bill are: decentralization of power generation, transmission and distribution; empowering the state to regulate its electricity supply, among others. The bottom line is that Delta State will now be able to generate, transmit and distribute its own electricity without relying on the unreliable national grid. This will bring improved electricity and allow businesses, especially small businesses, in Delta State, to flourish.
Of course, it is no brainer that the state government cannot do it alone, so private sector participation is key to the goal of lighting up every part of Delta State – the urban and rural areas, upland and riverine areas. The provision of electricity will enable big investors to set up big companies while the MSME will also set up and run their businesses at a much lower cost, thus reducing unemployment. Like sugar attracts ants, stable and adequate electricity in Delta State will attract businesses to Delta State.
Another benefit is that just as light drives away darkness, well-lit streets, roads and neighbourhoods will reduce the crime rate substantially; more so when many people become gainfully engaged and have no excuse to resort to crime. Governor Oborevwori also commissioned and donated 31 security vehicles to the police during the week to improve the operations of the force. This is good but it is an interim measure. The gamechanger and long-term solution to combating crime is stable electricity.
Let me quickly add something I had previously touched on. Delta State prides itself as the only state with four universities. It also has a number of polytechnics and a federal university, including one that will commence academic activities soon, I hope, amongst others. This is quite commendable, but after school, what next? Which brings me to the question that has been on my mind. What exactly do they teach in these universities and other tertiary institutions, specifically their curricula? When a school is located in an area where the people are naturally self-motivated and hardworking, the schools need to tailor their curricula to suit the environment, the National University Commission’s regulations and provisions, notwithstanding. This is an area where I want those in charge of education in Delta State to look into. Do not churn out products that cannot be self-starters or are unemployable. Delta State doesn’t need such graduates.
When it comes to electricity generation Delta State is blessed. We have the gas to power gas turbines, water for hydroelectricity dams and a conducive environment to generate renewable energy. God has blessed Delta State with everything. We just need to harness them judiciously. Electricity generation is not new to Delta State. I grew up over 50 years ago to meet ECN thermal power station at Ekakpamre in Ughelli North LGA.
I am very excited about the passage of the bill and I do not want to pretend about it. But I am also cautious. I thought Nigeria will be generating at least 30,000 megawatts of electricity by now. It could have been achieved since we returned to democratic rule in 1999.
Delta needs to get the legal and regulatory framework right. It will also be necessary to critically study why the federal government failed in its electricity generation, transmission and distribution efforts so that we do not make the same mistakes. I am keenly watching. Some of my friends have relocated home (Delta State). Someday, I hope to join them. Currently, anytime I travel home, I stay sometimes for a week without electricity. It makes my stay very unappealing. It is not only the generator noise; the situation is not pocket-friendly. My friends who relocated home also complain that the near absence of electricity has affected their businesses. It has increased their costs of running their businesses astronomically.
With the amendment bill Buhari signed, Nigerians should turn their focus to their state governments. If the federal government cannot do it alone, let your state, which is nearer to you, get involved. Nigeria is a federation, remember. Since the law was amended, my focus has been mainly on Delta State, because it is my state of origin and Lagos State is where I live and have business interests. Lagos has already set in motion measures to generate 4,000 megawatts of electricity. I welcome this because I will be a beneficiary.
I ATE SARDINE!
I used to eat sardine and bread or sardine with garri a lot. I will soak the garri in ice-cold water, add sugar, groundnuts and powdered milk. These were some of my fetishes. After I was diagnosed as being prediabetic, I stopped taking both regularly as a precautionary measure. I don’t take diabetes drugs. I use diet and lifestyle change to manage it.
Consequently, I did not know the price of sardine had flown through the roof until one day I really felt like eating bread and sardine for a break. When my wife brought it, I innocently asked how much it now costs. When she told me, I lost my appetite and told her to take it away. But she left it on the table. A few days ago, she brought only bread, instead of bread and akara (beans cake), my other fetish.
With no akara, I had to do with the sardines, but I ate only two out of the three fish in the tin. I just didn’t feel it was right to spend so much for what I used to buy for 18 to 20 kobo in the 70s. Much later in the day, I went to the kitchen to drink water. I saw that my daughter covered the leftover sardine. I knew it would end up in the dustbin the next day. I hate waste, so I took another two slices of bread and ate my sardine. Eight slices of bread a day, instead of my usual three or four, is too much for a prediabetic person, but don’t crucify me. I hate waste (Lol). Three days later, with no akara, she suggested sardine again. This time, it was capital NO! I dey vex. I know prices of all items have hit the roof, but sardine is not worth the price, in my opinion.
