Nigerians across every region of the country are crying out over the worsening supply of electricity. This was revealed in an unscientific poll conducted by Saharareporters over the last three days. Using social media tools like Facebook, Blackberry, Twitter, Saharareporters asked Nigerians how power supply was in their area.
Nigerians across every region of the country are crying out over the worsening supply of electricity. This was revealed in an unscientific poll conducted by Saharareporters over the last three days. Using social media tools like Facebook, Blackberry, Twitter, Saharareporters asked Nigerians how power supply was in their area.
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The exercise was a follow up to a SaharaTV interview with the Minister of Power and Steel, Prof. Barth Nnaji in which he claimed that electricity supply in Nigeria had vastly improved. In the interview, he touted the growing number of power stations coming online and how they would boast Nigeria’s power supply.
More than a thousand responses came through Saharareporters social media. An overwhelming majority rated the power supply worse than it was in the last six months. Writing from Borno state, Asura Malgwi said, “Let us talk about Borno state. I stay within the metro area. Power is very bad. It is at zero level in weeks. Today, I only saw PHCN electricity for not up to 30 minutes.”
Oluphemmy H. Olalekan in Ilasa, Oshodi-isolo, Lagos, asked how the minister could say so. “…actually the reverse is the case. It is more pathetic this period when there is heat everywhere.”
From Garki 2, Abuja, Saharareporters received this note from Onome Ovuewhorie. “The light has not improved,” she wrote, “if anything it has gotten worse… from steady power to no power, especially in the evenings till about midnight.”
From Keffi, Nasarawa Saharareporters received this comment from Nasiru Bako, “From every comment here the indication is that there is no electric power supply in Nigeria. We in Keffi Nasarawa state have power supply once in a while, but the bills increase every month please we need prepaid meter so that this cheating will stop.”
In our poll, responders were asked to state how the supply was in their particular city, local government area and state.
Jide Afolayan from Ado Ekiti wrote, “It is worse than ever in Ado-Ekiti. My generators are getting real tired. NEPA is their back up.”
Isa Mohammed, like many other responders too issues with Prof. Barth Nnaji’s claim. “Nigeria is the only country where old men with grey hair lie in public.”
From the Eastern part, of Nigeria Saharareporters received the opinion of Kenechukwu Okafor Kenneth. He wrote, “Mr. Nnaji, Liar. No light in Onitsha and Njikika Local Government Areas both in Anambra State. We experience light for one hour at midnight. What does that mean?”
From Enugu came the sarcastic comment from Alexander David Enuha. “Yes, it is improving in my area with 2 hours of electricity while it is off for the other 22 hours. Is that not improvement?”
It was not all bad news. Salim Sulaiman Gummi in Karu, Abuja and Smart Nzenwa from Umuahia reported an improvement. “Honestly,” Gummi wrote, “the power supply in my area, Karu, Abuja, has increased tremendously. We now enjoy constant power supply since the beginning of this year. Kudos to the transformational agenda of Mr. President.” On his part, Smart Nzenwa in Umuahia wrote, “Relatively better since January. It appears some efforts are being made but the power supply is not stable yet. I think it has improved from 5% to 25% supply in Umuahia.”
From Rumuogholu area in Port Harcourt came the statement from Augustine Nwali. “Port Harcourt is really terrible,” he wrote. “One hour electricity for two days. What a shame for the Minister and his boss.”
The universities are not spared. Writing from the University of Benin, Folarin Dimowo said, “No light in University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, light from 12pm to 6pm daily. And from the University of Ibadan, in Ibadan came this comment from Ayokunmi-Solomon JIm. “It is a great lie...even in Nigeria's Premier University,UNIBADAN - A citadel of knowledge we experience epileptic electric power supply.”
The breakdown of Kainji Dam did not escape the attention of some commentators. “You did not hear of the leakages at Kainji Dam?” asked Nwokeji’he Ayodele. “That’s a setback. But prior to that, it was better than any other administration had provided. Kudos to Nnaji.”
The government last weekend announced the shutdown of the 760- megawatts Kainji Hydro-power station in Niger state due to excessive water leakage. If not fixed, reports said, operation at the Jebba Hydro station could also be affected. Nigerian power plants are notoriously poorly maintained.
This latest development would be distressing news for Ehiz Chriz Enek who wrote the following from Ogba, Lagos state. “Ogba, Lagos, Nigeria. No light for a week. When it comes, it flashes like a camera. Typing this with candle.”
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