The Nation Newspaper

Tag: POWER

  • Power will shift in Akwa Ibom, says Eta

    •Etiebet: Ekere will be governor

    The Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Hilliard Eta, has urged party members in Akwa Ibom Stateto gird their loins, saying that power shift is possible in the Southsouth state.

    He said APC will build on its feat in Ekiti State to prove that it is a party to beat in next year’s poll.

    Eta spoke in Uyo, the state capital, during ‘President Muhammadu Buhari’s endorsement rally, where a chieftain, Nsima Ekere, was endorsed for the governor by party faithful.

    Observers described the rally as a defining moment for the main opposition party in the state. It took place a week after the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hosted chieftains for a rally. APC leaders said the rally was held to reinforce the fact that there is vacancy in the Akwa Ibom Government House in 2019.

    Also, the APC rally was significant because some big wigs who have defected from the PDP to the party were firing salvos and pushing for power shift. To them, the opposition party is better positioned to form the next government, adding that the PDP structure is ebbing away.

    The rally was attended by former Secretary to Government Umana Umana, former Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere, former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator James John Akpanudoedehe, Presidential Assistant on National Assembly Matters Senator Ita Enang, and former PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) member Chief Don Etiebet.

    The occasion was also witnessed by Senator Aloysius Etok, former House of Representatives member Eseme Eyibo, the Chairman of Cross-River Basins Development Authority, and former House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Uwem Udoma.

    Akwa Ibom has produced three governors in the last 19 years. The governors-Obong Victor Attah, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Udom Emmanuel-belong to the PDP.  The question is: can the Adams Oshiomhole-led APC change the equation? Can Akwa Ibom APC leaders pull the rug off the feet of Akpabio and Udom?

    To Etiebet, change is possible, if the party can field the right candidate. Hailing the endorsement of President Buhari and Ekere, he said: “Today is not a day of speech making. The crowd has said it all. The crowd has spoken. It shows that the people of Ikot Ekpene are ready for Nsima and Buhari.”

    Urging Ekere to prepare for leadership, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources added: “Nsima, go and consider our own call. We have called you to run for Akwa Ibom governor in 2019. With your benevolence and programmes for this senatorial district, consider the plea and resign in due time and run for the governor on the APC platform.”

    Etiebet’s remarks raised some issues. Although the rally was meant for the endorsement of the president for a second term, it also endorsed Ekere, who defected to the party, for governor. A fresh wound was opened over the battle for the ticket between Ekere and Akpanudoedehe, an aspirant.

    Akpanudoedehe once coordinated the battle against former Governor Akpabio in 2011 as governorship flag bearer, but without success. Since he defected to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), he has been consistent and loyal to the progressive camp.

    In 2015, following Ekere’s and Umana’s defection from the PDP to the APC, Akpanudoedehe complained that he was being edged out. Some chieftains alleged that the senator shunned party activities, owing to the fact that his former foes in the PDP came into the party to outwit him. The bitterness was compounded by the fact that the sharing of positions in the APC did not favour him. Many of the positions allocated to the state went to those who met him in the party. Thus,  when Etiebet endorsed Ekere, there was apprehension and controversy over whether Akpanudoedehe had given up on his aspiration.

    Akpanudoedehe, according to sources, is indifferent to Ekere’s endorsement. He explained that he attended the rally to identify with the president and Oshiomhole.

    The endorsements of Esere, however, in the view of some stakeholders, was a reward for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) boss’ support for the party.

    Oshiomhole’s message to the rally was germane. Against the background of the intrigues that played out, prior to the APC national convention, the national chairman tried to correct the insinuation that he was opposed to some leaders of the chapter. Eta, who represented him, predicted victory for the APC. He said the party will repeat its feat in Ekiti in the Southsouth state, urging members to work in unity.

    The Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Etok, said President Buhari deserved re-election because he has tried to reposition the economy.

    He added: “The President has repositioned the economy. Although the enemies of progress have decided to kill people here and there, just to distract him, we in Ikot Ikpene Senatorial District are behind him. We must support him  in 2019. That is why you see everybody here. Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District is APC and nobody can challenge that.”

     

     

     

     

  • Mahindra boosts agric, power

    A multinational conglomerate, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited,  said it plans to scale up and expand its operations in the country. Together with its Nigerian partners, Springfield Agro Limited, and VIP Merchandise Enterprise Limited, the firm said it is now offering customised and focused solutions in the areas of agriculture and farm-tech prosperity, mobility and power generation.

    Speaking on the sidelines of a media forum in Lagos, Mahindra’s Chief of International Operations, Arvind Mathew, said the firm was inspired to find solutions to humanity’s challenge and the need to overcome same. “We challenge conventional thinking and innovatively use all our resources to drive positive change in the lives of our stakeholders and communities across the world,” he said.

    According to him, Nigeria is among the largest markets and economies on the African continent, with very strong growth prospects. This, he said, was why the firm has been steadfast with its channel partners to ensure that it delivers innovative solutions to meet the needs of the community. One of these is the “Farm-To-Folk” initiative, which he described as a solution that empowers farmers from every region to drive their capacity, including farm-tech prosperity. Mathew assured that Mahindra, as a Group, will continue to up the ante on technology and innovation to offer solutions in Nigeria that will drive positive change.

     

  • APC can’t retain power in Ogun, says ADC

    The  Ogun State  chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that the party would wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state come 2019.

    The party said it is hinging the confidence on its first-hand feelers from the electorate and residents, which indicated that a significant number of them are disillusioned with the style of APC governance in the state and determined to seek alternative platform.

    The ADC State Chairman, Dr. Gbolade Oshinowo, who made this known to reporters in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, shortly after briefing them on why the party had formed an alliance with the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) among others, identified two conditions that could make Ogun APC retains power in 2019.

    Oshinowo who spoke at the weekend,  said it is either the Ogun electorate failed to vote in 2019 according to their conscience or their expressed will is subverted by the APC government to pave way for its preferred candidate.

    He said the ADC would provide the right leadership, governance and discipline in the state, if elected into various  elective offices, while women and youth would also accorded significant place in governance.

    On CUPP,  he disclosed that the party joined the coalition when it became clear that the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) was not strong enough to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari and his APC in 2019 and rescue the country from her current drift.

    He said: “ADC is the symbol of hope; it is the symbol  of the concerted efforts of the patriots to rescue the nation from the present ongoing misrule and maladministration and it is the hope of the youth and women in general.

    “Look at what is happening  in APC today, the President has performed poorly, everybody knows that, yet that big party cannot find someone to challenge him; he is the sole candidate; he has already  been ordained again for another four years.  CUPP will provide a an incredible alternative. The ADC is engaged in a rescue mission.

    “The ADC is also very keen on leadership and governance to a large extent many  people see politics as a quick way of making money, instead of  a platform for social development, for public service, for social engineering as our founding fathers want it to be .The ADC wants to change all that. We want to make sure that whosoever has the privilege to serve Nigeria, should  truly become agent of change.”

     

  • How we’ll get power to all Nigerians, by Fed govt

    Power generation and distribution have been decentralised to guarantee uninterrupted supply, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said.

    He said availability of power supply will attract more foreign investment.

    The Vice President spoke at a town hall meeting with youths at the Theophilus Ogunlesi University Teaching Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    He said he was in Ibadan for the provision of solar power in Gbagi Market as he had done in other parts of the country.

    He said:”One of the reasons I am here in Ibadan is to have off-grid power generation and distribution in Gbagi market.  We want to embark on solar power generation in the entire Gbagi Market and we are going to have that in all the markets across Nigeria.

    “For those of you who are following our activities, you will know that we have done it in Sabon Gari in Kano State and in some markets in the East and in Ondo State too. We are doing this not to rely on the traditional sources of power generation again.

    “We also have something we called Illegible Customer Declaration (ICD) which means that industrial areas and big estates can have their own power without relying on the traditional grid.

    “So there are companies that we are licensing to buy power and sell to their customers. This country is too big to have same power source for the whole country and that is why we are trying to decentralise the sources of power generation.

    “Then, we will be able to supply what is left for residential areas that require power in the country.  We have a systematic approach to solving power generation in the country. We are having the power problems because the privatisation was done badly.”

    During the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic, Osinbajo said 10,392 graduates from Oyo State had been shortlisted for the second batch of N-Power scheme scheduled to begin next month.

    He said 9,220 volunteers benefited in the first batch of the scheme.

    The Vice President said President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that the GEEP programme be expanded to cater for small scale enterprises.

    “We are feeding 230,000 pupils, we have also employed 2,363 cooks in the state, while 14,529 households are benefiting in the Conditional Cash Transfer.

    “It is the hope of Mr President that we should broaden opportunities and make it available to every Nigerian,” he said.

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi said the Federal Government had contributed tremendously towards socio-economic development in the state.

    “Close to 37 million MSMEs in Nigeria represent 80 per cent of Nigerian enterprises and they give out 75 per cent employment in Nigeria.

    “Small businesses create more jobs, expand the economy and ensure prosperity. We commend the unwavering commitment of the Vice President to economic development,” he said.

    The event was attended by Minister of State for Trade and Investment Mrs Aisha Abubakar, Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Saliu Adetunji.

  • Democracy, leaders  and power

    Every  dog  has  its  day ‘ is a fine saying   to  oneself   urging restraint  when your  opponents get  the better  of you    on  any   issue ,  no  matter  how momentarily. It   is  a statement  that  is both consolatory and hopeful  that a different  solution to the  matter  at hand  may still  emerge  even  as the victors  of the moment  savor their  victory.   That  mood and attitude  had been  the mood  of  most  Nigerians since former Head of State  retired Gen Olusegun Obasanjo  in   1999   made    May  29, Democracy  Day   when    he was elected a civilian  president  of Nigeria, 20  years after he left office as a military  dictator  and handed  over government  to a democratically  elected government  of  Shehu  Shagari.  Nigerians  were tramautised  by that  use  of presidential  power as most thought that  June 12,  the date   of  the   June  12  election  that  brought in MKO Abiola  as president ‘ of the freest election in Nigeria’  should  without  doubt  have been  Nigeria’s  undoubted  Democracy  Day  given  the struggle  the Nigerian people embarked on with the Abacha  military  regime to  have the winner  of the election sworn  in as president to claim his mandate. Every  dog  had its day  for the Obasanjo’s  thinking  and   use  or  abuse   of  power  till  this week  when  Nigeria’s President Muhammadu  Buhari  used the same power  to annul  May  29  as  Nigeria’s  Democacy  Day  and install  June 12  as the new Democracy  Day  and Public Holiday  in  Nigeria.  Again,  you  can  bring  in  another  fine saying for  the occasion.  That  is the wise  saying  that  –  the mills  of justice may grind slowly  but they  grind exceedingly fine.  You  may  even   round that up  by  joining me in  doffing my  hat  to  our  president  and sage  indeed  on this matter    for  making  a reality  the wishes  of  millions  of  Nigerians  for  a long  time.  A  wish  deliberately  and contemptuously  ignored  with  impunity  by  the creator  of  May   29  Democracy  Day. A  leader   who  sees  himself   and no  other  as Nigeria’s   chosen  Messiah  even  though fate  gave  him  ample opportunity  to  turn  Nigeria  round so that  we have light at the end  of  the tunnel  of  Democracy. But  he blew  up  the rare  chance  of being our president twice and is  still  unrepentantly  blaming every  one but himself  for  the  sick  democracy   we  are  all  learning to  live with  today.  Even  as we do not know whether  or when  to cry  or  laugh     as  we  somewhat,     in very    vain   hope  await  the elusive  mirage  of  the dividends  of  democracy.

    All    the same  without  taking anything  away  from  the incumbent’s  President’s   responsive and welcome creation of a new Democracy Day   in  Nigeria,  we  look  at the travails  of Democracy  as a   global system  of  government and  the claims  being made  for  it or  on its behalf  by those  who  have  power  through  elections  and  believe  democracy under  their  leadership  or  guidance  is working. One  such  view  point  is  held by  no less  a body  than  Nigeria’s National  Assembly  which  in   a joint  session  this week called  on the Nigerian  president to perform  on security  and protect  Nigerians   and    stop  molesting  opponents  or else   be ready  for the Nigerian Legislature  to invoke  its power  to  take care of  Nigerians.  Which  is a form  of impeachment  threat  which  we  shall  look  at  in the appropriate  context  today.

    We  also  take  a look  at another  June  12  event  on  De -nuclearisation  taking place  hopefully  finally  in Singapore  and  involving   the highly  charged  meeting between  US President Donald  Trump  and N Korean leader  Kim  Jong  Un. It  is  a meeting  between two  leaders with  different  concepts  of  democracy that  are  at odds in  theory  and practice . In  fact  those Americans  who  hate Trump  would  put  him in the same dictatorial  mode  as Kim  and call  them  birds  of the same feather  in their  style  of  democratic  leadership. That  however  would be open  to  a virile debate involving the evolution  and history  of their  two  very  different political  systems  and the  institutions  of political  participation  and mobilization. What  is important  is that the  two  leaders have taught    the civilized  world  a lesson that  in diplomacy  at  what ever level  and what ever  the odds,  where  there is a will    there  is always   a  way.  The two  leaders  meet  on an Island in  Singapore on  Nigeria’s  new  Democracy  Day   and Nigerians cannot  but  wish  them  the best  in their  quest  to make the world  a safer  place  for  us  all. The  meeting   was  always  on a cliff  hanger in terms of it   ever  taking place given  the volatile  nature  of the two  very  powerful  leaders    who  have shown by  now  mutual  respect  for each other in making the June 12 possible  after  mutual  recriminations , suspicion  and   mistrust  of  their agents  and nations on the Denuclearisation issue. The  lesson  for global  leaders  here  is that power  and its exercise  should  not stand  in the way  of  national  and   global  issues and  political  systems  in what ever  mode    of democracy     can  relate, interact and have  rapprochement  to make  global   peace  in our  time.

    We  can now  go back  to  the National  Assembly’s   veiled impeachment threat  to the Nigerian president and its implications. It  is apparent  that the face off   between  the inspector  general of police and the  president of the senate  that  has  mushroomed  to the Offa  robbery   accusations   and  invitation  of the Senate  President   by  the Police on the robbery has been deemed an attack  on the independence of the Nigerian  legislature  and as such  an  assault on our  democracy. The  issue  here is that impeachment and criminal  allegations  are two  different  issues  and distinct  aspects of democracy  and  the rule  of  law. The  president  is in charge of the security  of the nation  and the  ball  is always  in his court  on  that  account  on which  he is accountable  to the Nigerian  people  now   and  especially   at election time. Similarly  the legislature  and its principal  officers are  not above the law  of  the land while policing is still  under  the IGP under  the rule of  law  and no  other.  These  are  the nitty  gritty  of  the matter  and the  workings of  our  democracy  must  be allowed  to play itself out  in  the correct,  legal  and legitimate  manner,  such  that  justice  is  not only  done  but must  be seen  to  have  been  done according  to our constitution.  Once again, long live the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Water: first source of life and now of power and conflict in Nigeria?

    Whisky is for drinking; water is for fighting over.—Mark Twain
    Some hypothesise that increased water shortages around the world will lead to wars. The current Syrian civil war has been cited by many, including Dr Peter Engelke, senior Fellow at Washington-based think tank Atlantic Council, as a recent example. “Between 2007 and 2010, Syria experienced one of the worst droughts in recorded history…. Anders Berntell, executive director of 2030 Water Resources Group, a multi-sector water resources body, also suggests a link to Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab, whereby young people “realise that, as a result of the lack of natural resources, degraded land and lack of water there are no livelihood opportunities… There is no future for them. They become easily targeted.” They are more easily radicalised…. All of which would predict a bleak future – but some nations have worked out solutions. And they’re impressive ones that the rest of the world can learn from.—Tim Smedley
    Almost half of humanity will face water scarcity by 2030 and strategists from Israel to Central Asia prepare for strife.—Chris Arsenault
    Unequal power relations within states and conflicts between ethnic groups and social classes will be the greatest source of social tensions rising from deprivation,” said Ignacio Saiz from the social justice group. “Water too often is treated as a commodity, as an instrument with which one population group can suppress another…. Water scarcity is an issue exacerbated by demographic pressures, climate change and pollution.—Ignacio Saiz

    I have deliberately overloaded the epigraph today, to demonstrate that water stress affects many parts of the world and that what is striking about the attitude to it in Nigeria is the difference between the way Nigeria’s federal government thinks about growing water stress and the way countries like  Australia, Israel, and UAE, think about it. As we will argue later, other advanced countries think about applying technology to their water problem while Nigeria prefers to apply politics to its own.

    Nigeria as a corporate body and as individuals have already started to act as victims of water stress, by attempting to cure headache with decapitation. The 152-clause Executive Bill on federal take-over of management of all forms of water: surface and underground suggests an effort to remake Nigeria into a unitary state: “As the public trustee of the nation’s water resources the Federal Government, acting through the Minister and the institutions created in this Act or pursuant to this Act, shall ensure that the water resources of the nation are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in a sustainable and equitable manner, for the benefit of all persons and in accordance with its Constitutional mandate.”

    Clause (5) reads: “States may make provisions for the management, use and control of water sources occurring solely within the boundaries of the State but shall be guided by the policy and principles of the Federal Government in relation to Integrated Water Resources Management, and this Act.” These two clauses have emptied sub-national units of the country of any significance by threatening the fundamental character of the country. Rather than a law for passing by the national assembly, the intent of the law to own all forms of water—actual and virtual—degrades the federating units and reduces them too appendages to the central government. State representatives in the national assembly do not have the power to surrender water that subtends and sustains the land in their constituencies to the central government. This bill should be withdrawn and brought back as constitutional amendment. It is too fundamental to the essence of Nigeria as a federal republic.

    Why would the central government want to treat water the way it has treated petroleum and gas and solid materials? It is to turn water into a commodity that it can also control exclusively and share like petroleum and gas.  Undoubtedly, water is acquiring by the day the force to threaten political stability in many countries. As Anders Berntell has once acknowledged, the Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab terrorist groups owe significant part of their radicalization to growing lack of natural resources including water that has reduced chances to make a respectable living for young people in the countries affected by Boko Haram and Al Shabaab.

    Other experts have also traced the anger and anxiety of herdsmen to threats to their pre-modern occupation and livelihood. Almost three decades ahead of projections on water-driven conflict between nations or sections of the same country, like Nigeria, the President’s bill before the Senate on making control and regulation of all surface and underground waters an exclusive function of the central government seems to be an avoidable heating of the Nigerian polity and society. What is needed is a blueprint to make water available to all sections of the country through use of innovative methods already being employed in other countries. It is not surprising that the bill is already stoking political and regional tension.

    Just within hours of the Senate’s preliminary debate of the Waterways Bill, the nation seems to be divided, because the bill, if passed into law, has the potential to threaten national unity. The recent meeting of South-south governors and the communique that ensues from it: “We also agreed that the bill currently making round in the national assembly which we understand is an executive bill on management of water resources. We are of the view that the provisions of the bill are offensive and obnoxious; we disagree with the centralized control of water resources as we are already dealing with the problem associated with over centralization of our country and we have agreed that the bill should be immediately withdrawn by the federal government and further consultations be made on that” have, as expected, sharpened what is fast-becoming Nigeria’s entry into what is already seeming like high-voltage hydro politics.

    Without mincing words, this bill is anti-federalism. Introducing a federal take-over of management of water resources at a time that the ruling party had established committees to make recommendations on restructuring and devolution of powers is one bill too many. Federating units are land-owning units and water—surface or underground—sustains land. Any bill that seeks to cut management of land from management of water wittingly or unwittingly seeks to de-nature the federation.

    A bill that is likely to overheat the polity, stoke the flames of ethnic and political tension, and threaten national stability is not the way to solve a global problem: water stress. Instead of a bill to politicize the growing water stress in Nigeria, the thing to do is for Nigeria to ‘technologize’ this challenge, i.e. apply benefits of new knowledge and technology to solving water scarcity in all parts of the country. Making management of water resources an exclusive federal function does not guarantee an end to water stress in the context of rising population that is projected to make Nigeria the third most populous country by 2050.

    What is needed is thinking out of the box and ahead, like Israel, UAE, Brazil, Australia, to name a few. These countries are increasing their water supply by capturing rain water and using an ‘Osmotic System’ of de-salination that makes sea water good for human consumption. A new method of de-salination made possible by scientific innovation is the way to end water stress without stoking the flames of regional tension and political instability. We left provision of power in the hands of the federal government half a century ago while we should have given such powers to sub-national governments. We are today bound to provide power at a much higher cost than we would have done decades ago. Transferring management of water resources, to the federal government, apart from such trans-country rivers like Niger and Benue, is to offer a solution to a problem that is not properly identified. Nothing seems to have broken that this bill is to fix. Water stress is now a global problem that can be solved with technology, not politics or law.

     

  • Operators in power sector must live up to expectations – Buhari

    The President stated this in his broadcast to the nation to mark the 19th year of Nigeria’s nascent democracy and the 3rd anniversary of his administration in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He said that the country had recorded impressive improvement in power generation and distribution in the past three years.

    He, therefore, charged operators in the system to enhance their services, especially in distribution capacity, service delivery, collection efficiency and metering to eliminate contentious estimated billing.

    “In the area of power generation, Nigerians from all parts of the country continue to report better power supply and less use of generators.

    “This underscores the effectiveness of the methodical plan to deliver incremental and uninterrupted power supply to our homes, markets, offices and factories.

    “The country achieved 5, 222.3 MW representing the highest peak of power generated onto the national grid and delivered to customers in December, 2017.

    “With new facilities, repairs and rehabilitations by the Government and private investors, generation capability now exceeds 7,500 MW,’’ the president said.

    In transportation, Buhari said that the sector had continued to undergo series of reforms in order to sustain the international best practices and ensure safety and security.

    According to him, the nation’s major airports have witnessed reconstruction of runways, installation of navigational equipment and new international terminals.

    He said that the new terminals were due for inauguration in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Enugu.

    The president expressed the hope that Bilateral Air Services Agreements between Nigeria and the governments of other countries would significantly open up new flight routes.

    He said: “As a result of strict regulatory and compliance policies, Nigeria retained her Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category 1 status, after a routine international audit.

    “Recently, a new Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility with capacity for aircraft C-checks and other comprehensive levels of maintenance was established in Lagos.

    “This will save the country an estimated 90 million dollars annually.’’

    Buhari stated that giant strides had been recorded over the past three years to improve road transport infrastructure in all geo-political zones of the country.

    He added that railway sub-sector had also received tremendous attention as government was committed to the goal of linking all state capitals by rail network to ease the movement of goods and passengers. (NAN)

     

  • Any end to power crisis?

    The collapse of eight power generating plants in some parts of the country may further worsen the lingering epileptic power supply being experienced across the country, writes Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

    To say the power situation across the country has turned from bad to worse is certainly stating this obvious. Truth is, the power sector is in a shambles, albeit with no end in sight!

    Predictably, the lingering power crisis may get worse no thanks to the collapse of eight of the power generating plants in some parts of the country.

    Power plant collapse

    Specifically, eight out of the 27 power plants in Nigeria were shut down on April 9, 2018, as a result of operational constraints that include gas, line and frequency management. Some of the power plants tripped due to low gas pressure while GT3 was shut down due to generator air inlet filter trouble.

    According to data obtained from the Power Generation Report by the Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing, these constraints affected the power plants may have been responsible for low power generation.

    The affected power plants were, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine (GT) where the power plants 1 and 2 were out due to line constraints while GT 3 was on a fault. GT 4 tripped on generator differential lockout. ASCO Power plant GT1.

    This power plant was shut down due to leakage in the furnace Ihovbor Nigerian National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) GT 1

    This power plant was out due to a gas constraint. GT2 was also out due to the malfunctioning gas regulating valve.

    Others included Alaoji NIPP Gas Turbine Where the power plant 1, 2, and 4 tripped due to low gas pressure while GT3 was shut down due to generator air inlet filter trouble. Afam IV and V Gas Power Plant.

    GT13-16 were out on blade failure while GT17 tripped on a loss of excitation. GT18 was out on inspection and maintenance, while GT19 and 20 are awaiting major overhaul.

    Besides, the Sapele Steam ST1 tripped on low drum level and ST2 was shut down for maintenance, ST3 was out on stator winding problem, ST4 and 5 were awaiting major overhaul while ST6 tripped on gas control valve not following reference point.

    On these accounts the total loss in January 2018 was valued at over N1.5billion In January alone, the average power generated and distributed was 3,971mw while 2,302.8mw was not generated due to unavailability of gas. In the same vein, as a result of the unavailability of transmission infrastructure, about 417mw was not generated due to high frequency resulting from poor distribution infrastructure while the sum total these constraints was that the power sector lost an estimated N1.584 billion by January 25, 2018, due to insufficient gas supply, distribution infrastructure, and transmission challenges.

    The Nigerian power sector has been plagued with structural issues in all key areas that include generation, gas supply, transmission, and distribution. Sadly, the operational capacity of the country’s power plants is less than 35% of their installed capacity. There have also been a lot of reports of chronic vandalism that helped to cripple gas pipelines. While In the same vein, underinvestment in maintenance and infrastructure also constrained the transmission grid.

    More woes

    Nigeria has been ranked as the second worst nation in power supply as power drops to 3,851 megawatts, MW. The Spectator Index of the world’s worst electricity supply in 2017 stated this in a report released by @spectatorindex twitter handle, last January.

    According to the report out of the 137 countries examined, Yemen ranked as worst electricity supply nations in 2017, followed by Nigeria, Haiti, Lebanon, and Malawi.

    Ethiopia occupied the 37 position, while South Africa and Algeria occupied the 41, 45 positions respectively.

    Perhaps the greatest challenge besetting the sector is that of poor capacity. Despite the injection of an N701 billion assurance guarantee for gas supply to the power sector, the electricity grid has continued to fluctuate, ending at less than 3,400 megawatts (MW) since the past few months.

    According to the he Nigerian System Operator (NSO) daily power report electricity generation fell to 2,804 MW early last month after hitting 4,200mw the previous months.

    The highest generation obtained for last month was 3,666mw, while the lowest was 2,963mw. The peak generation was lower at 2,804mw.

    It may be recalled that the federal government in May 2017 announced the N701bn assurance guarantee domiciled with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET).

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Advisory Power Team report showed that the national grid capacity stood at 4, 000 Megawatts, The report noted that the average power sent out by the Electricity Generating Companies, GENCOs, on the 14th of January, stood at 3, 851.06mw, down by 168.58mw, recorded the previous day, adding that the peak generation averaged 4, 425mw, down by 5.5 percent.

    According to the report, “On January 14, 2018, average power sent out was 3,851MWh/hour (down by 169MWh/h from the previous day). 1437.9MW was not generated due to unavailability of gas.

    “Power was not generated due to unavailability of line infrastructure, while 680.5MW was not generated due to high frequency resulting from the unavailability of distribution infrastructure. 290MW was not generated due to unavailability of water.

    “The power sector lost an estimated N1,121,000,000 on January 14, 2018, due to insufficient gas supply, distribution infrastructure, transmission infrastructure and water reserves.”

    Consequently, a total of 63.1mw of energy was sent out from Omoku thermal power plant with a constraint of 16mw. Alaoji National Independent Power Plant, NIPP, had a constraint of 240mw which affected the ability of the plant to generate commercial energy.

    Energy sent out from Delta power plant on the same day was 340.76mw with a high-frequency constraint of 100 Hertz. Jebba plant sent out 302.88mw of energy, while Shiroro had a water constraint of 290mw, along with high-frequency constraint of 95 Hz, limiting the sent out energy to 160.31mw, while Kainji dam sent out 359.49mw of power to the transmission company of Nigeria, TCN.

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said it was to be used to offset payment for gas supplied to the thermal plants from January 2017 to 2019 to guarantee more electricity generation.

    Before the fund was introduced, operators of about 20 Generation Companies (GenCos) had said they owed gas suppliers over N200bn as at December 2016, and that it was yet to be cleared. They also noted that the N701bn fund was coming as a form of the loan to the GenCos.

    But a comparative figure for energy generation last month when the grid was on 4,200mw, showed that electricity supply fell by 1,396mw. It further revealed that hydro power is generating a significant quantum to the grid.

    The report from the transmission’s National Control Centre in Osogbo, Osun State, said 23 power plants operated minimally last month with Shiroro Hydropower in Niger State generating the highest power of 549mw.

    Delta Power, a gas-fired plant led by 506mw while Jebba Hydropower followed with 360mw. While Egbin Steam generated 354mw, Kainji Hydropower generated 335mw as the fifth highest generator during the day. Confirming the challenge of inadequate gas to the power plants, the data showed that Egbin GenCo’s gas component had the lowest generation of 16.5mw during the peak period of 4,205mw in the national grid.

    Payment for gas supplied since January begun since July from the N701bn fund. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Louis Edozien, recently confirmed that payments had been made for gas supplied to the thermal plants for January and February while payment for March and April are being processed.

    Meanwhile, a 30-day operational data from the NSO, an arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), between July 15 and August 14, 2017, revealed that the trend in peak generation is to hit 4,000mw and then drop same day to less than 3,000mw.Despite the payment assurance for gas being handled by the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), the lowest power generation daily often drops to 2,800mw and sometimes, below. As at July 19, the national grid fell to 1,191mw electricity generation, while the highest that day (peak generation) was 4,345mw.

    Out of the 30-day period, the grid reached 4,000mw 16 days with the highest being 4,566mw attained on July 20. Peak generation during the other 14 days hovered around 3,711mw attained on July 22 to 3,975mw reached on July 23. For the off-peak generation, the highest in the period was 3,319mw recorded on July 21. The worst of it was the 1,191mw of July 19, 2017.

    TCN has repeatedly said that once power generation was lower than 3,500mw, it could not guarantee a stable system. The record of NCC confirmed that there was a partial system collapse throwing some parts of the country to darkness in July when the worst generation was recorded. The Association of Power Generating Companies (APGC) had said the GenCos had been operating on fewer turbines to generate power based on the quantum of gas that they could pay for.

    Horror stories of power cuts

    Worried by the sorry power situation in the country, the Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE) led by its Coordinator, Chinedu Bosah and Shoyombo M.K, Secretary, in a statement made available to The Nation at the weekend, 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.

    “Nigeria requires substantial upgrade in transmission and distribution infrastructure. Despite, fraudulent bailout of over N200 billion given to the power companies by the government and the unjustifiable increment in tariff, the power companies have failed woefully. Aside this is the fact that the Distribution Companies owed the federal government about N500 billion.”

    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.

    “It is more than obvious that the power companies lack the capacity to bring about sustainable improvement and stability in the supply of electricity. 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.”

    CPC mandate to address power crisis

    Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, Babatunde Irukere, Director General/Chief Executive, Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria (CPC), while x-raying the state of the sector, acknowledge the fact that while electricity is an essential public utility, as such, it does not conform with the general rubric of a business, properly so called.

    According to him, “There is a fundamental state obligation to citizens that is encapsulated in that business. This being the case, it must be strongly and highly regulated, especially the distribution aspect. I recognise the legacy problems in the sector, and appreciate that it’s an industry in transformation. However, there can be no acceptable excuse for violating people’s rights, especially when the violator is not a state actor.  I have repeatedly expressed my strong views that arbitrary estimated billing, and group disconnections are not only inappropriate and unfair, but also abusive.”

    Pressed further, he said, “Regardless of supply capacity, which is sometimes understandable, people should only pay for what they consume, and should never be penalised for the conduct or failure of their neighbour or someone else in the neighbourhood.”

    The federal government and NERC efforts thus far, he maintained, is highly commendable. “The bold and focused attention that recently resulted in a different approach to metering, by opening the space to non players in the generation, transmission and distribution value chain, and prohibiting DISCOs from interfering in that process whether through ownership or participation in metering companies. The rapid customer metering that will ensue should diminish the aggravation that “crazy” bills have, and still cause. Beyond that, a sensitivity and responsiveness to customers is vital to business. This is more so, when the company and service it provides is a public utility.  To do business with customers who are displeased, unhappy to part with their money, do not believe they get value for money, but have no choice, to me, is social extortion.”

    He however said the CPC feels strongly that the DISCOs more than ever before need to improve on service delivery to the customers.

    To this end, he said, “Custom care and complaint resolution mechanisms in the regulatory framework must be priority. We are looking to strengthen regulatory partnerships to reinforce sanctions and a consequent management system that penalises inappropriate behaviour, while rewarding outstanding conduct.”

     

  • ‘Poor quality meters will worsen power sector’s woes’

    The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has warned that low quality meters  will worsen the power sector problems if not addressed.

    Its Managing Director, Peter Ewesor, said in an interview that the development posed dangers to the sector, which is still undergoing challenges.

    He said the sector was facing liquidity problems,  poor supply, low manpower, shortage of meters, and other infrastructural challenges.

    According to him, electricity distributors are badly affected by the development as Nigerians continue to berate the sector over poor performance since the Federal Government unbundled the assets of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in 2013 and sold them to the private investors.

    Shortage of meters, he said, is a problem in the industry, adding that the issue has been compounded by the proliferation of low standard meters, with adverse effects on the voltage of electricity supplied by the power distribution companies (DisCos).

    Speaking against the backdrop of a statement credited to the National Assembly that the sector is battling low quality meters, he said the agency has been trying to discourage people from importing such meters into the country.

    Ewesor said: “The agency has decided not to approve meters that fail pre-testing requirements, which include durability and the capacity of the meters.

    “Any meter imported into the country without type set certificate can no longer be distributed or deployed in the country.  Type set certificate is a kind of certificate given to the importers of meters that the meters are good enough to be deployed in the country.  If somebody is bringing meters into the country, he must submit the meters to the NEMSA for pre-testing.

    “The testing will show whether the meters would work in Nigeria or not. Having certified by NEMSA that the meters would work in the country, a certificate known as type set certificate would now be given to the owners or importers of the product.”

    According to him, there is no adequate supply of meters in Nigeria, stressing that the problem is affecting individual and industrial users of meters in the country.

    Ewesor, who is also the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, said the meters when supplied to the consumers by the DisCos are not well installed, noting that the issue is affecting the productivity of the meters.

    He said neither has the problem slowed down the activities of the agency nor making it incompetent as alleged by a section of the public.

    Ewusor said there have not been challenges facing the agency in the real sense of it, adding that the agency will pre-test only the meters that are submitted to it.

    He said many DisCos have submitted their meters for testing, in line with the mandate of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) that meters must be supplied for testing before they are deployed to the consumers.

    He urged the power distribution companies to improve on the supply of meters, stressing that the issue would enable consumers access electricity as well as give them some level of respite.

  • Of pulpit and power

    Pulpit and power. Pulpit and politics. Power of the pulpit. Power and the pulpit. When power meets pulpit. This is Hardball at work trying sculpt a fitting headline. An exciting story must be prefaced by a lucid (living, if you like) title/headline otherwise the entire ensemble would seem like a beautiful woman donning a dowdy hat.

    The story is that T.B. Joshua, our Man in the Synagogue (Church Of All Nations) has done it again. He has captured another African state house; he has literally installed another president on the continent.

    News is out that President Juliu Maada Bio visited Prophet T.B. in his Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos sanctuary before the March 31 run-off poll in Sierra Leone. And as we all know, Bio returned from the Synagogue, spiritually equipped to nick it in the re-run. How uncanny can life be! The result suggests that the election could have gone either way, which means we can safely conclude that President Bio may have gotten a little unction – the winning edge from the Ikotun-Egbe grove.

    To think that he beat the ruling party in a run-off poll in a West African country; it can only be divine and the man of God who prayed the power prayers must himself be a man of power.

    So he must be. So he is if you check the antecedents of Prophet T.B. Last October another run-off election candidate, now President George Weah of Liberia took the opportunity of the break to seek out the man in the Synagogue. And voila, he returned to trounce his opponent.

    It must be said that T.B. Joshua has in the past decade or so gradually migrated from another crowd-pulling pastor to something of a deity, an oracle sought after and consulted by many African men and women of power. His synagogue in the dank suburb of Lagos has become Mecca not only for politicians but for top footballers on the slide; fortune hunters and out-of-limelight celebrities.

    No fewer than six other African heads of state have come on pilgrimage to Prophet T.B’s shrine: late President John Atta-Mills of Ghana; late President Fredrick Chiluba of Zambia and former President Joyce Banda of Malawi, among others.

    Apart from drawing power closer to the pulpit in Africa, Prophet T.B. is phenomenal in a lot of ways. Though without a secondary education, his Synagogue probably attracts more foreigners than the entire country attracts tourists. Again, apart from the only other presence in Ghana, SCOAN is a one branch church but boasts more members than most other multiple-branch contemporary.

    But all said this prophet is not hot at home… could it be homeland envy as Christ once said?