TLITE ENGINEERING
Monday 22 February 2016
Tuesday 12 January 2016
SOLUTION TO NIGERIA POWER OUTRAGE
The
revelation that the administration of the former president of
Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo "spent" about $16.00 billion on
energy and power with no
appreciable impact on Nigeria's energy and power sector. We recall
that at the inception of the current civilian dispensation in the year
2000, the former President raised the genuine hopes and
yearnings of the average Nigeria when he said: "On my honour, by the
end of 2001, they (Nigerians) would begin to enjoy regular,
uninterrupted power supply".
On the heels of that solemn promise came
the creation of the Liyel Imoke Technical Committee on Energy and Power.
However, today the problem of endemic power outages
still pervade as the nation remains in darkness. The Electricity Power
Sector Reform Act 2005 was promulgated on March 5, 2005, to liberalize
the energy sector and break the monopoly in the
industry. The Act also established the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory
Commission (NERC). The legislation was passed in a bid to resuscitate
the power sector. In spite of all these Committees and
legislations, the sector remains epileptic. Current and ongoing
investigations by the legislature highlight an unfortunate scenario of
allegations and counter pandering on the part of government
officials.
To date, there is no agreement on the
actual figure expended in the energy sector between 1999-2007. This in
itself is very worrisome. Equally, recent revelation that
due process through public tender of energy contracts was never
followed is regrettable when such contracts were solely awarded between
the minister and General Olusegun Obasanjo's (rtd)
presidency. We have equally taken note of the award of electricity
contracts to blacklisted companies by the former President which amounts
to a betrayal of the trust of the Nigerian people still
saddled with the torture of continued epileptic power supply and
broken promises.
Energy is the engine that drives
industrialization, which improves communication, helps innovation in
science and Technology, provides sound healthcare delivery system
and improves citizens' standard of living. Since energy is the engine
that drives industrialization, a sound energy policy would indirectly
create jobs even in unexpected sectors. Considering the
central and pivotal role electricity plays in an economy, we fully
endorse President Musa Yar'Adua's position that,
"we must solve this problem because until
we do that, we cannot address the fundamental problems of our economy
like poverty and unemployment. Even while the
circumstances may be different, we may need to follow the
telecommunication formula in order to solve the nation's power and
energy problems. Our ultimate goal is to achieve what we did with the
GSM or I declare a state of emergency in the sector...Power is a key
priority of this administration and we all agreed that our efforts at
developing the nation cannot succeed unless we solve the
power problem."
Addressing the electricity crisis is one
of President Umaru Yaradua's seven-point agenda promised Nigerians while
on his 2007 campaign trail. An Energy Council was set
up. In addition an 11-man Committee for the Accelerated Expansion of
Nigeria's Power Infrastructure was inaugurated on Tuesday, February 19,
to deliver 6,000 additional megawatts over the next 18
months and add an extra 11,000 megawatts by 2011. We hope that these
promises and targets are real and genuine and that the government can
deliver this time around. Nigerians can no longer bet on
government promises because of monumental failures to keep promises
made in the past. Any real moves must be bold, private sector-driven and
devoid of bureaucratic bottlenecks. There has to be time
lined Electricity Development Plans backed by statutes. The Nigerian
Society of Engineers ought to be directly involved at all levels.
I believe that a sound Energy Policy is
not and should not be limited solely to electricity production from
fossil fuel - Oil & Gas and/or Nuclear Energy
Sources. There are of course better, and more efficient and
environmentally friendly ways of generating electricity. The following
sources must be tapped - Biomass, Geothermal, Hydro Power, Nuclear
(fission and fusion), Ocean waves, Solar, Wind, and other pollution
free renewable sources.
As a responsible corporate citizen I
encourage the Nigerian government in conjunction with other stakeholders
to focus her energy policy strategy on areas such as
Solar, Wind, Ocean waves and Biomass. These are energy areas that most
developing nations like Nigeria can exploit safely and efficiently.
They are also environmentally sound.
President Musa Yar'Adua has a chance for a
new beginning and a renaissance to building a proud and industrial
nation. He must tap into the entrepreneurial spirit and
bring on board "the can do attitude" of his fellow citizens.
In the meantime, we urge the National
Assembly to step up its oversight functions so as to find answers to the
whereabouts of the $16 billion that the last
administration claimed to have invested in the power sector and move
the nation forward by ensuring that recent promises by the current
administration remain a marked difference from previously
failed promises.
The
revelation that the administration of the former president of
Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo "spent" about $16.00 billion on
energy and power with no
appreciable impact on Nigeria's energy and power sector. We recall
that at the inception of the current civilian dispensation in the year
2000, the former President raised the genuine hopes and
yearnings of the average Nigeria when he said: "On my honour, by the
end of 2001, they (Nigerians) would begin to enjoy regular,
uninterrupted power supply".
On the heels of that solemn promise came the creation of the Liyel Imoke Technical Committee on Energy and Power. However, today the problem of endemic power outages still pervade as the nation remains in darkness. The Electricity Power Sector Reform Act 2005 was promulgated on March 5, 2005, to liberalize the energy sector and break the monopoly in the industry. The Act also established the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The legislation was passed in a bid to resuscitate the power sector. In spite of all these Committees and legislations, the sector remains epileptic. Current and ongoing investigations by the legislature highlight an unfortunate scenario of allegations and counter pandering on the part of government officials.
To date, there is no agreement on the actual figure expended in the energy sector between 1999-2007. This in itself is very worrisome. Equally, recent revelation that due process through public tender of energy contracts was never followed is regrettable when such contracts were solely awarded between the minister and General Olusegun Obasanjo's (rtd) presidency. We have equally taken note of the award of electricity contracts to blacklisted companies by the former President which amounts to a betrayal of the trust of the Nigerian people still saddled with the torture of continued epileptic power supply and broken promises.
Energy is the engine that drives industrialization, which improves communication, helps innovation in science and Technology, provides sound healthcare delivery system and improves citizens' standard of living. Since energy is the engine that drives industrialization, a sound energy policy would indirectly create jobs even in unexpected sectors. Considering the central and pivotal role electricity plays in an economy, we fully endorse President Musa Yar'Adua's position that,
"we must solve this problem because until we do that, we cannot address the fundamental problems of our economy like poverty and unemployment. Even while the circumstances may be different, we may need to follow the telecommunication formula in order to solve the nation's power and energy problems. Our ultimate goal is to achieve what we did with the GSM or I declare a state of emergency in the sector...Power is a key priority of this administration and we all agreed that our efforts at developing the nation cannot succeed unless we solve the power problem."
Addressing the electricity crisis is one of President Umaru Yaradua's seven-point agenda promised Nigerians while on his 2007 campaign trail. An Energy Council was set up. In addition an 11-man Committee for the Accelerated Expansion of Nigeria's Power Infrastructure was inaugurated on Tuesday, February 19, to deliver 6,000 additional megawatts over the next 18 months and add an extra 11,000 megawatts by 2011. We hope that these promises and targets are real and genuine and that the government can deliver this time around. Nigerians can no longer bet on government promises because of monumental failures to keep promises made in the past. Any real moves must be bold, private sector-driven and devoid of bureaucratic bottlenecks. There has to be time lined Electricity Development Plans backed by statutes. The Nigerian Society of Engineers ought to be directly involved at all levels.
I believe that a sound Energy Policy is not and should not be limited solely to electricity production from fossil fuel - Oil & Gas and/or Nuclear Energy Sources. There are of course better, and more efficient and environmentally friendly ways of generating electricity. The following sources must be tapped - Biomass, Geothermal, Hydro Power, Nuclear (fission and fusion), Ocean waves, Solar, Wind, and other pollution free renewable sources.
As a responsible corporate citizen I encourage the Nigerian government in conjunction with other stakeholders to focus her energy policy strategy on areas such as Solar, Wind, Ocean waves and Biomass. These are energy areas that most developing nations like Nigeria can exploit safely and efficiently. They are also environmentally sound.
President Musa Yar'Adua has a chance for a new beginning and a renaissance to building a proud and industrial nation. He must tap into the entrepreneurial spirit and bring on board "the can do attitude" of his fellow citizens.
In the meantime, we urge the National Assembly to step up its oversight functions so as to find answers to the whereabouts of the $16 billion that the last administration claimed to have invested in the power sector and move the nation forward by ensuring that recent promises by the current administration remain a marked difference from previously failed promises.
On the heels of that solemn promise came the creation of the Liyel Imoke Technical Committee on Energy and Power. However, today the problem of endemic power outages still pervade as the nation remains in darkness. The Electricity Power Sector Reform Act 2005 was promulgated on March 5, 2005, to liberalize the energy sector and break the monopoly in the industry. The Act also established the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The legislation was passed in a bid to resuscitate the power sector. In spite of all these Committees and legislations, the sector remains epileptic. Current and ongoing investigations by the legislature highlight an unfortunate scenario of allegations and counter pandering on the part of government officials.
To date, there is no agreement on the actual figure expended in the energy sector between 1999-2007. This in itself is very worrisome. Equally, recent revelation that due process through public tender of energy contracts was never followed is regrettable when such contracts were solely awarded between the minister and General Olusegun Obasanjo's (rtd) presidency. We have equally taken note of the award of electricity contracts to blacklisted companies by the former President which amounts to a betrayal of the trust of the Nigerian people still saddled with the torture of continued epileptic power supply and broken promises.
Energy is the engine that drives industrialization, which improves communication, helps innovation in science and Technology, provides sound healthcare delivery system and improves citizens' standard of living. Since energy is the engine that drives industrialization, a sound energy policy would indirectly create jobs even in unexpected sectors. Considering the central and pivotal role electricity plays in an economy, we fully endorse President Musa Yar'Adua's position that,
"we must solve this problem because until we do that, we cannot address the fundamental problems of our economy like poverty and unemployment. Even while the circumstances may be different, we may need to follow the telecommunication formula in order to solve the nation's power and energy problems. Our ultimate goal is to achieve what we did with the GSM or I declare a state of emergency in the sector...Power is a key priority of this administration and we all agreed that our efforts at developing the nation cannot succeed unless we solve the power problem."
Addressing the electricity crisis is one of President Umaru Yaradua's seven-point agenda promised Nigerians while on his 2007 campaign trail. An Energy Council was set up. In addition an 11-man Committee for the Accelerated Expansion of Nigeria's Power Infrastructure was inaugurated on Tuesday, February 19, to deliver 6,000 additional megawatts over the next 18 months and add an extra 11,000 megawatts by 2011. We hope that these promises and targets are real and genuine and that the government can deliver this time around. Nigerians can no longer bet on government promises because of monumental failures to keep promises made in the past. Any real moves must be bold, private sector-driven and devoid of bureaucratic bottlenecks. There has to be time lined Electricity Development Plans backed by statutes. The Nigerian Society of Engineers ought to be directly involved at all levels.
I believe that a sound Energy Policy is not and should not be limited solely to electricity production from fossil fuel - Oil & Gas and/or Nuclear Energy Sources. There are of course better, and more efficient and environmentally friendly ways of generating electricity. The following sources must be tapped - Biomass, Geothermal, Hydro Power, Nuclear (fission and fusion), Ocean waves, Solar, Wind, and other pollution free renewable sources.
As a responsible corporate citizen I encourage the Nigerian government in conjunction with other stakeholders to focus her energy policy strategy on areas such as Solar, Wind, Ocean waves and Biomass. These are energy areas that most developing nations like Nigeria can exploit safely and efficiently. They are also environmentally sound.
President Musa Yar'Adua has a chance for a new beginning and a renaissance to building a proud and industrial nation. He must tap into the entrepreneurial spirit and bring on board "the can do attitude" of his fellow citizens.
In the meantime, we urge the National Assembly to step up its oversight functions so as to find answers to the whereabouts of the $16 billion that the last administration claimed to have invested in the power sector and move the nation forward by ensuring that recent promises by the current administration remain a marked difference from previously failed promises.
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