SAN FRANCISCO, January 29, (THEWILL) – In the history of Nigeria, constant power supply has been a major challenge. Not only has it hampered the nation’s socio-economic development, it has also encouraged nocturnal crimes. It is in the light of this that the partnership between Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Dangote Group, for constant power supply to the state becomes topical.
Hints of the partnership were dropped when President of the Group and billionaire, Alhaji Aliko Dangote visited the governor. The industrialist disclosed that the project will involve constructing gas pipelines under the sea from Bonny in Rivers State, to Lagos. According to the details, the project on completion, will guarantee 24-hour power supply to the state. Already, the governor has inaugurated a Power Committee, with the mandate of creating an enabling environment for the take-off.
It is commendable that Ambode has risen to frontally tackle power challenges facing the state. Currently, electricity supply is not commensurate with the huge demands, given the status of Lagos as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria. Going by statistics, the Ikeja and Eko Electricity Distribution Companies supply a total of 1,000 megawatts of power, representing about 20% of power requirements. This is a huge deficit from the over 5,000 megawatts needed to facilitate the running of commercial, industrial and private activities in the state. THEWILL is optimistic therefore that this project would solve this challenge.
But, going by the damage that policies summersault have caused the nation’s developmental programmes, we urge the committee to study current challenges facing the sector, with a view to making a lasting success of the venture. One of the major challenges has been the issue of estimated billing, in spite of the fluctuations and outright unavailability of power. This norm, which is in brazen disregard to people’s feelings, may be compounded by the increased tariff due to commence soon.
THEWILL notes that the Lagos/Dangote venture would only succeed if there is complementary role by the existing Gencos and Discos. This fear should be taken into consideration, following the recent inauguration of the Egbin Power Plant by Minister of Power Babatunde Fashola, who disclosed that the plant would dedicate additional 220 megawatts to Lagos.
THEWILL urges stakeholders to be mindful of known impediments to power generation, transmission and distribution, which have partly been identified as the “low or non-investments in transmission capacity, and high loss rate between generation and distribution.” Only sustainable manpower training, cultural and technical reorientation is needed to stop this trend.
We however warn that given the nation’s experience with pipeline vandals, the committee must consider the vulnerability of the proposed gas pipelines and take pro-active measures, on how best to safe guide them after completion. Same is the spoiler-role of generator Czars and other interest groups, who profit from unstable power supply in the country.
Above all, we implore the stakeholders to liaise with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC) in fine-tuning the plans, so that Lagos residents will not be forced to carry the added burden of exploitation and over-billing, from which they may not have any option.
