President Muhammadu Buhari |
On national
television, the other day, while responding to a question on complaints about
the persistent epileptic electricity supply across the country, the presidency
said rather patronizingly that Nigerians should not blame the president for
power outage in the country, but should go and fight the vandals responsible
for the destruction of gas pipelines. “After we had
5,000 megawatts, there was vandalism in Bayelsa State and we lost 1,600
megawatts in one day and then another in Delta State and we lost another 1,000
megawatts… So if some people are crying that they are in darkness, they should
go and hold those who vandalise installations. That is it.”
Statements
such as this can only emanate from an arrogant mindset, sycophantically
concerned about words directed at the principal, rather than objectively
addressing a precarious state of affairs demanding proper communication. The
finality with which a somewhat thoughtless defence of a manageable challenge
was portrayed showed a government’s communication laced with hopelessness and
frustration. Yet, given the potential and efforts of the government, it is evident
that this government is capable.
For a start,
the problem with electricity supply across the country is beyond the rhetorics
and figures dished out in press interviews. Although the country witnessed a
much celebrated all-time peak of 5,074 megawatts of electricity generation
early in the year, the demand for electricity is estimated to be 12,800
megawatts. While the current generating capacity stands at between 2,500 and
3,500 megawatts, which is about three times less than the required demand, this
is by far a grossly inadequate capacity for a population of 170 million people.
Besides,
apart from hydro-electric power which accounts for 21 per cent and oil which
holds 16 per cent, natural gas, which accounts for 63 per cent of the country’s
power generation is apparently the sole factor in today’s electricity problem.
The possibility of other alternatives tends to be overlooked. That is why any
imbalance in the gas sub-sector upsets national development.
Furthermore,
the worsening power outage has effect on macro-economic and micro-economic
aspects of the country. Apart from the direct link poor electricity supply has
on industrial development, commercial growth, and unemployment, there are
environmental and health hazards which Nigerians would have to be saddled with.
According to a study which identified 40 toxic air contaminants in diesel
generator exhaust, “in Nigeria, indirect evidence of
the impact of diesel exhaust on lung cancer is indicated by its rising
incidence among urban-based non-smokers less than 60 years old, most of whom
use diesel generators on a daily basis.”
For a
government that was humble and accessible enough to seek citizens’ votes during
campaigns, these truths about power outage and its attendant effects must be
communicated politely. The tension over electricity supply should not be
allowed to degenerate into mistrust for this government. A cardinal feature of
the democratic culture is the invaluable disposition called transparency and
accountability. As in everywhere in the world where the democratic ethos is
highly respected, government owes it a duty to courteously, respectfully and in
a manner depicting civility, explain to citizens what they, of right and
necessity, should know. It is not for any other reason that this democracy is
called a people’s government. The dignified propriety of behaviour and speech
called decorum of the agents of state is what preserves democracy as a free,
fair, and open decision-making process.
Even though
there is a sitting minister for this sector, matters of power supply are too
germane to be left in the hands of a presidential aide to handle. For this
reason, President Muhammadu Buhari
should, for his own sake, come on national network and explain to the nation
what the state of affairs is. When things get to this point, he should perform
his job as a minister too.
Without
unduly emphasising it, discerning Nigerians know that the shortage or
non-availability of gas to power generation plants is simply the major problem
facing electricity generation. Yet, this problem, like many others bedeviling
the economy, is one of management rather than inaccessibility.
With an
estimated gas reserve of 187 trillion cubic feet, and the seventh largest in
the world, Nigeria is one country that should not make gas shortage an excuse
for power failure. Alas, in the paradox that has become its Achilles heel,
Nigeria is the second largest gas flaring country in the world, losing billions
of dollars from flaring 13 billion cubic metres yearly, even as it suffers from
poor gas sub-sector and constant vandalism of gas pipelines.
Yet, we are
convinced that the president and his team are capable, and have the zeal and
sincerity of purpose to transform the power sector. However, addressing
vandalism, which government has termed its main problem, demands an uncommon
political will to do the needful. Given the sophistication of technologies
available globally, this government may want to explore other options such as
satellite surveillance to complement the activities of the security agencies
including the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. Nigeria’s Nigcom Sat
1R, Sat 2 and spying activities of drones, could also be harnessed to achieve
this purpose. Nigerians are tired of excuses, especially ones offered with
arrogance. (Guardian)
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