10 Ways Fashola Can End Epileptic Power Supply

Nigeria is currently facing serious problem of stable electricity supply. The new minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola can end epileptic power in the country if he maps out the best strategies as quickly as possible.

President Muhammadu Buhari might have seen what a good number of people did not see when he appointed the former of Lagos state to head the power ministry, which is among the 3 ministries Fashola will oversee.

Stakeholders and Nigerians alike are of the opinion that Fashola could adopt some of the highlighted measures below in order to bring Nigerians out of the perennial darkness called power outage.

President Muhammadu Buhari (R) congratulating the new minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (L)    Credit: NAN

1. Investing in alternative sources of generating electricity

Nigeria is a country blessed with so many natural resources that can be used to generate electricity. Apart from the hydro-power (that is electricity generated from water) in Kainji Dam in Niger state, there are other states that can provide alternative sources.

For instance in Enugu state, the coal deposit is enough to provide the electricity needs of the entire South Eastern states if properly harnessed. Also, the Northern part of the country is blessed with fallow lands where wind mills could be constructed. The 4.4 billion Lambar Rimi wind power plant is located in Lambar Rimi, Rimi local government area of Katsina state is moribund. If a project of this type is revived, at least a fraction of Nigeria’s power supply problem would be solved

2. Foreign investment and technical know how

There is no crime in inviting foreigner to assist the country in solving her perennial power problem. Nigeria should study the model adopted by advanced countries. By extension, the designers of those projects and experts can be employed.

3. Public private partnership (PPP)

There are wealthy individuals in Nigeria who are ready to work with the federal government to bring affordable power supply to Nigerians. This is one of the things Fashola should be ruminating about. It will further shed off the load from the government’s neck.

READ ALSO: 5 Reasons Buhari Chose Fashola As Minister Of PWH

4. Encouraging indigenous power companies

Some local companies have the technical man power to provide some megawatts of electricity. Some of these local companies are proficient in solar power generation. Some of then can use renewable energy like waste natural materials to generate electricity.

5. Proper measures against vandals/vandalism

Reports do have it sometimes that men of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps usually apprehend people who vandalise government’s power installations. This is one of the major headaches the power sector needs to find a lasting solution to. These vandals often operate at night and at locations where they are not easily seen by the general public.

6. Regular and routine maintenance

The nation’s electricity company like the National Electricity Regulatory Commission should ensure that the electrical facilities are routinely and properly maintained. The maintenance culture of most government infrastructures should be better managed.

READ ALSO: 10 Things Fashola Should Do To Solve Housing Problem

7. Proper link between power generation, transmission and distribution channels

The 3 power chains of generation, transmission and distribution should be well and better coordinated. It is not okay if the megawatts of power supply distributed is far less than what is generated regardless of whether there is step down.

8. Breaking the backbone of cabals and saboteurs

This is one of the major ways Fashola can end epileptic power supply problems in the country. There are so many powerful individuals who sabotage the government’s effort to provide. During the time of the late Chief Bola Ige as the minister of power and steel in 1999, he said he will turn over the fortunes of the sector within a few months. Bola Ige even said he will turn stone into bread. However, the power saboteurs thwarted his efforts and he never achieved anything until he was redeployed into the ministry of justice.

9. Solving the problem of crazy bills

It is only in Nigeria that electricity bill distributors bring over charged bills to consumers. This is sometimes absurd as the power distribution companies just write out charges they like. The former of Lagos state should see to this.

10. Improving upon pre-paid metres

Pre-paid metres should be distributed throughout the country and properly installed. Government’s power companies should also not extort the consumers all in the name of giving out pre-paid metres. Another issue here is that the money paid to get a pre-paid is too high.

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