One way to address the lingering energy crisis assailing the country is to renationalise some of the assets and infrastructure currently being managed by foreign investors.
Making this suggestion at the weekend was a group under the aegis of Coalition of Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE).
In a statement made available to The Nation, the group said it was scandalous that the nation had expended a lot of funds on capital project in the power sector but with little or nothing to show for it.
In the statement signed on behalf of the group by led by its Coordinator, Chinedu Bosah and Shoyombo M.K, Secretary, they lamented that the marginal improvement in electricity supply in the last few weeks has hit the rock as many communities across the country.
In the statement which reads in part, the duo said, it was regrettable that: “No official public explanation has been issued by the federal government or the power companies. Due to dilapidated transmission and distribution facilities, many consumers suffer blackout despite the marginal improvement in electricity generation.”
Citing a statement attribute to President Muhammadu Buhari where he reportedly claimed that electricity generation has reached 7000 MW, the group said the nation’s energy consumption requires much more than that.
Many rural communities in Niger State and many other places hardly have electricity because the power companies make more profit supplying electricity to companies and urban areas. It is this profit motive that makes it difficult for the power companies to invest in basic infrastructure. The distribution companies have deliberately refused to issue meters and have continued to issue unjustified outrageous bills to most consumers, they stressed.
“Despite a massive investment of over $20 billion in the sector, Nigeria has only generated additional 4500 MW and just about three-quarter of it get to consumers due to poor transmission and distribution network and facilities. The amount expended on the power sector in the last 15 years is enough to guarantee at least 17,000 MW with efficient transmission and distribution infrastructure.”
The Coalition therefore urged the federal government to re-nationalise the power sector, invest massively in it and introduce democratic and transparent management to forestall profligacy and looting of public corporations. This is the only way the electricity needs of the masses will be accommodated. CARE is also demanding that the Distribution Companies should issue pre-paid meters to all consumers as a way to end extortionist outrageous billing.”
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