The dialogue level of the second a part of this serial harped on after we might develop a ‘nationwide creed’ to deal a blow on this enemy known as nationwide greed, whose results have continued to destroy our nationwide grid.
We have to get again to this dialogue level as a result of a number of the energy elite who must develop a nationwide creed for probably the most populous black nation on earth simply returned from three highly effective nations, France, Brazil and South Africa the place the governments can not ignore the expediency of decreasing vitality value to spice up enterprise and improve welfare of the individuals. I hope they’re deepening their understanding about why we’d like a nationwide creed to destroy nationwide greed that has additionally diminished the stature of Africa’s most populous nation.
As I ponder the perpetual darkness that has develop into the norm in our beloved nation, I’m once more reminded of the age-old adage: “greed is the foundation of all evil.” Evidently our collective greed has develop into the first impediment to having fun with a dependable and environment friendly nationwide electrical energy grid. The opposite day, I used to be at Ilupeju SPAR (grocery store) for a haircut at my ordinary salon. I used to be shocked to find that Black&White unisex salon that had a thriving store of many younger skilled hairdressers, barbers, manicurists, pedicurists, facial beauticians, and so on had disappeared from the premises of the most important mall in Ilupeju. I known as the Black & White salon supervisor who apologised profusely to me. He stated, “Uncle, sorry, we needed to shut that store as a result of we couldn’t address the electrical energy payments there. All the things we had been making couldn’t pay the electrical energy payments. Sadly, we haven’t acquired a brand new place. All of our professionals are jobless now…”
For many years, Nigeria has struggled to offer steady electrical energy to its residents and entrepreneurs. Regardless of the abundance of pure assets, together with oil, gasoline, and hydroelectric energy, our nationwide grid stays in shambles. The implications are dire: companies endure, industries stagnate, and the general high quality of life deteriorates.
So, what’s the foundation of this downside? Is it corruption, incompetence, or a scarcity of funding? Whereas these components definitely play a job, I firmly consider as I’ve been saying that our ‘nationwide greed’ is the first offender.
Greed, on this context, refers back to the insatiable want for energy, wealth, and affect that appears to drive our nationwide agenda. It’s the identical greed that leads politicians to embezzle funds meant for infrastructure growth. It’s the identical greed that prompts enterprise leaders to prioritise income over individuals. And it’s the identical greed that encourages people to sabotage the system for private acquire.
Till we tackle this ‘nationwide greed’, our electrical energy grid will proceed to endure. The grid isn’t just a bodily infrastructure; it’s a logo of our collective well-being. When it fails, all of us endure.
So, when will our nationwide greed collapse, permitting our electrical energy grid to work effectively? The reply lies in our collective willingness to prioritise the higher good over private pursuits.
A name to actionTo obtain this, we’d like a elementary shift in our nationwide mindset. We should recognise that our particular person successes are inextricably linked to the success of our nation. We should prioritise investments in essential infrastructure, together with the electrical energy grid that retains collapsing amidst ‘Band A’ fallacy.
Moreover, we have to maintain our leaders accountable for his or her actions. We should demand transparency and accountability within the administration of our nationwide assets which have been wasted on the ability sector’s doubtful enlargement. We should additionally help insurance policies and initiatives that promote the higher good, even when they require short-term sacrifices.
The collapse of ‘nationwide greed’ requires a brand new period of cooperation and collective duty. We should work collectively to construct a Nigeria the place the electrical energy grid is a logo of our nationwide pleasure, not a supply of disgrace. As we attempt in the direction of this objective, we should keep in mind that the collapse of nationwide greed just isn’t a vacation spot; it’s a journey. It requires persistence, perseverance, and a dedication to the higher good by our leaders who maintain pursuing frivolous initiatives resembling overhead bridges and water boreholes that may’t improve humanity and human growth indices.
As I replicate on this subject once more this week, I’m reminded of the smart phrases of Nelson Mandela: “The best glory in dwelling lies not in by no means falling, however in rising each time we fall.” Nigeria has fallen many instances, nevertheless it’s time for us to rise once more. Allow us to rise above our nationwide greed and work in the direction of a future the place our electrical energy grid is a logo of our nationwide pleasure. Allow us to rise above our particular person pursuits and prioritise the higher good. Listed here are some good examples of what the governors of the 36 states and Abuja can do now that there’s energy sector freedom in federalism.
Deliverables and classes from Redemption Metropolis and Covenant UniversityThe examples of Redemption Metropolis of RCCG Mission and Covenant College/Canaan Land, Ota, each in Ogun State, Nigeria, show the feasibility of unbiased electrical energy energy technology and distribution. These establishments have efficiently applied self-sufficient energy programs, offering 24/7 electrical energy to their communities.
The deliverables*Decentralised Energy Era: Each establishments have invested in decentralised energy technology, utilizing a mix of diesel mills, gasoline generators, and renewable vitality sources. This strategy permits them to generate energy independently, decreasing reliance on the nationwide grid.
*Personal Sector Participation: The success of those establishments’ energy programs is basically as a result of non-public sector funding and administration. This highlights the significance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in growing and working energy infrastructure.
*Neighborhood-Based mostly Energy Distribution: Redemption Metropolis and Covenant College have established their very own energy distribution networks, serving their respective communities. This strategy ensures dependable and environment friendly energy provide, with minimal transmission losses.
*Regulatory Framework: The Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee (NERC) has performed an important position in enabling these establishments to generate and distribute energy independently. The regulatory framework has offered a stage of certainty and stability, encouraging non-public sector funding within the energy sector.
Implications for State Governors:The examples of Redemption Metropolis and Covenant College show that state-based energy technology is possible and may be efficient. State governors can discover related initiatives to handle energy shortages of their respective states.
*Public-Personal Partnerships: State governors can leverage PPPs to develop and function energy infrastructure, decreasing the monetary burden on state governments. Oyo state has begun this within the capital metropolis, Ibadan.
*Decentralized Energy Distribution: State governors can think about decentralised energy distribution fashions, the place energy is generated and distributed on the native stage, decreasing transmission losses and enhancing effectivity.
*Regulatory Help: State governors can work with NERC and different regulatory our bodies to create an enabling surroundings for personal sector funding within the energy sector.Submit-Deregulation Alternatives
*State-Based mostly Energy Markets: With the deregulation of the ability sector, state governors can discover the creation of state-based energy markets, the place energy is generated, transmitted, and distributed inside the state.
*Unbiased Energy Producers: State governors can encourage unbiased energy producers (IPPs) to spend money on energy technology initiatives inside their states, offering a dependable supply of energy.
*Mini-Grids and Micro-Grids: State governors can help the event of mini-grids and micro-grids, which may present energy to rural and underserved communities.
In the principle, the examples of Redemption Metropolis and Covenant College/Canaan Land show the potential for unbiased electrical energy energy technology and distribution in Nigeria. State governors can study from these examples and discover related initiatives to handle energy shortages of their respective states. The post-deregulation panorama offers alternatives for state-based energy markets, IPPs, and mini-grids/micro-grids, which may help to enhance the general effectivity and reliability of the ability sector in Nigeria. Let’s ask what the governors are ready for?
As I famous within the first a part of this serial on March 20, 2022, let’s not get it twisted, except there’s a collapse, sure collapse of this public enemy primary, known as nationwide greed, we will be unable to sing any redemption songs within the vitality sector comprising electrical energy and oil and gasoline assets. It’s dangerous sufficient for our nation that now after 25 years of unbroken democratisation and politicking (29 Could, 1999-29 Could 2024) couldn’t result in credible revival of our oil refineries. What’s worse, our energy (electrical energy) sector too hasn’t raised what Ngugi wa Thiong’o calls, “hope of a greater tomorrow as “the one consolation you may give to a weeping little one”. So, as an alternative of praying for restructuring and revival of our accident-prone nationwide grid, we should always pray fervently for the collapse of nationwide greed in any respect ranges of management and followership right here.
Greed is an uncontrolled eager for enhance within the acquisition or use of fabric acquire; or social worth, resembling standing, or energy. Greed has been recognized as undesirable all through recognized human historical past as a result of it creates behaviour-conflict between private and social targets… An instance of greed is when you find yourself obsessive about getting increasingly cash. A egocentric or extreme want for greater than is required or deserved, particularly of cash, wealth, meals, or different possessions. It typically drives inordinate ambition and so that’s the place we discover individuals’s greed for energy.
That is the reason for close to absence of widespread good in Nigeria. Most individuals who search energy in Nigeria are pushed by this uncontrolled eager for enhance within the acquisition or use of fabric acquire, or social worth or energy, not for the aim of service supply or public good. The powers, I imply the enterprise elite that acquired the electrical energy energy stations from former President Goodluck Jonathan had been largely pushed by this identical widespread illness known as nationwide greed, as a result of they had been simply obsessive about getting increasingly cash than is required or deserved. They artfully bamboozled the nation for what they thought had been profitable energy stations. They didn’t intend to take a position extra to get our nationwide grid working. They had been supported and shielded by the very federally grasping energy elite in Jonathan’s authorities.
The nationwide greed in all of them is the rationale our electrical energy nationwide grid will proceed to break down. So, till the nationwide greed in all the enterprise and energy elite in Nigeria is made to break down by way of a nationwide creed and revolutionary motion to make the world’s most populous black nation an entrepreneurial nation, we’ll proceed to learn from the ebook of lamentation known as fixed collapse of nationwide grid. Oh sure, it’s the nationwide greed of our leaders and their enterprise elite collaborators that needs to be made to break down, ‘lest we needs to be the final’ within the new world order as the long-lasting Kwesi Brew warns.
