Despite the huge investments in power generation over the past decades, the sector is still struggling with multiple grid collapse, which have repeatedly plunged the country into needless blackouts.

ADDRESSING  the situation, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had said that the frequent system failure of the national grid was inevitable owing to outdated infrastructure. 

HE added that more investment in the sector would prevent future collapses. The minister advocated decentralising the power sector, saying that multiple grids within regions and states will ensure that power failure in one area does not affect the entire nation.

THE national grid is an interconnected network designed to deliver electricity from producers to consumers. The grid comprises generation stations that produce electricity, high-voltage transmission lines that carry this electricity over long distances, and distribution systems that reduce the voltage for delivery to homes and businesses.

UPON assumption of office in August last year, the Minister of Power increased electricity generation from less than 4000 megawatts to about 5000 megawatts, with a promise to do better.

HOWEVER, the frequent collapse of Nigeria’s power grid has since made citizens lose hope in the earlier promises made by the Power Minister to rescue the sector. The incessant grid collapses pose a severe threat to the country’s economic development. According to estimates, power interruptions cost the economy billions of naira each year.

 A report from GET.Invest, a European programme supporting renewable energy in Africa, noted that Nigeria typically only transmits between 3,500 and 5,000 MW of electricity, despite its capacity to generate much more. There’s no gainsaying the fact that the poor transmission network, combined with regular grid collapses, has hampered the country’s industrial growth and productivity.

THIS latest ugly experience came at a time when Nigerians are groaning under the burden of yet another spike in the cost of diesel and petrol, which further compounds the citizens’ woes. While relevant stakeholders are not in short supply of excuses for total blackout, the turn of events verges on institutional incompetence and regulatory negligence.

IT is a known fact that about 47 percent of Nigerians do not have access to grid electricity and those who do, face regular power cuts. Hence, improving power sector performance, particularly in the non-oil sectors of manufacturing and services will be central to unlocking economic growth in the country.

UNFORTUNATELY, the problem of power failure has remained intransigent, as it has continued to swallow the huge investments sunk into it in the last two decades. They’ve been like the proverbial drop in the ocean. It is shocking that instead of an improvement, the situation has continued to get worse. Since 2013 when the sector was privatized, the grid has cumulatively failed electricity consumers severally. On each occasion, the incidents have brought the nation and its economic activities to her knees. It is not surprising, therefore, that the economy is on a nosedive and manufacturing industries are shutting down.

REGRETTABLY, incessant grid collapse and power outages come at a huge cost to the nation’s economy.

 REPORTS  put the cost of power outage in Nigeria at about $28billion, equivalent to two percent of her Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to the 2020 Doing Business Report, restricted access to electricity is one of the major drawbacks for the private sector. Therefore, the Federal Government must quickly put its house in order and provide a secured and business-friendly environment to attract the private sector, without which the sector stagnates.

SINCE the Minister of Power has attributed the incessant power grid failures to the deplorable state of the power infrastructure, The Hope calls for immediate measures to address the problem, which include upgrading grid infrastructure, replacing outdated equipment, and ensuring that the power grid is properly maintained.

THE government must encourage a switch to alternative energy sources, which is a global trend. Solar power, wind energy, and hydro-power generation should be given the necessary attention and integrated into the country’s power strategic plan. The energy mix is the in-thing and should be pursued with vigour.

THE power industry is too sensitively technical and financially inclusive to be undertaken solely by the government. The Hope, therefore, canvasses that electricity should not be on the exclusive list; let those who can provide power, be it states, corporate bodies or individuals, be allowed to do so and sell same to consumers. Decades of dependence on one omnibus, centralized power behemoth has woefully failed Nigerians and should be discarded. Improving access to reliable power supply is the key to reducing poverty and unlocking economic growth in the country.

WE equally commend the Federal Government for setting up a committee to investigate incessant grid collapse and urge those saddled with the responsibility to carry out the assigned duty holistically, to bring saboteurs, if any, to book as a deterrent to others, given the fact that the Minister of Power once raised similar alarm about saboteurs troubling the system.

IT is crystal clear that the lack of stable power supply has hampered investment and job creation, which would have empowered millions of citizens and delivered them from poverty. It has also stifled economic activities, private investments, and job creation, which ultimately are just the fillip required to lift Nigerians out of poverty.

WE hope that lasting solutions will be provided to halt further national grid collapse.