By Atilade Atoyebi
Nigeria’s population is currently estimated to be 200 million. The statistic that out of every five Africans, one is a Nigerian remains authentic till today.
Nigeria is rich in oil and gas. The two natural endowments has provided the country with bulk of its revenue in foreign exchange non stop from 1974 when oil prices began to appreciate in the world market till now.
However, Development and growth have been elusive all these years. With all the resources, Nigeria has not been able to fix electricity as an amenity that will accelerate economic development and provide easy comfort for the people in their homes. Small, medium and large scale economic activities still rely on ad hoc and comparatively expensive dependency on generators largely manufactured in countries that don’t even use them at all.
All manners of power generation are polluting the atmosphere in the country. Hydropower has been there all along but has never been exploited to capacity. We flare a good proportion of our gas here rather than convert them as fuel for electricity plants. Yes. We have a few of such plants; but we have potentials for much more. Investments in this direction is however weak and too slow. Solar energy possibilities are limitless. The technology to harness the power of the sun is improving by the day and prices are tumbling down.
Government involvement in the propagation of solar energy is next to nothing. Most of the plans to harness solar power for renewable energy are on paper. Nobody sees any concerted effort to move an inch towards using solar as part of the much needed energy mix.
With just 4,000 megawatts or thereabout power being rationed among industries of all sizes and among 200 million people, the time has come to mount pressure on the authorities to break this jinx once and for all. Do you know that Egypt has 38,000 megawatts of power and she is building more to cater for her industries and 98 million people? 12% of her energy sources is renewable energy—mainly solar. Does Egypt have more sunlight than Nigeria? The United Arab Emirates with 10 million people has 10,000 megawatts of power. The more comparisons we dare to make, the deeper we sink into frustration.
Let me make my own recommendation as a layman. The price of generators will remain what they are for the foreseeable future. The amount we pay for diesel and petrol won’t come down. A marked increase in public power supply won’t come to pass soon. So, as individuals and as owners of small scale businesses, my advice is go for solar energy. I know that this source of energy is not yet as popular as it ought to be even years before now. I also know that initial investment in solar energy is comparatively getting lower than the price of a generator that will supply the same quantity of power that solar energy will provide. Why not invest the same amount you have earmarked for a generator on acquisition of solar power? Little maintenance and no fuel required! For three years I have consistently used as small as 75 watts of solar power to charge my computer, my mobile phones and rechargeable fan. I can also light four bulbs and watch low powered television set. After the period of tests I am now prepared to de-emphasize public power supply and step up solar alternative. I have met some people who took the same decision a few years ago and they have continued to enjoy power without stress.
By Atilade Atoyebi
Nigeria’s population is currently estimated to be 200 million. The statistic that out of every five Africans, one is a Nigerian remains authentic till today.
Nigeria is rich in oil and gas. The two natural endowments has provided the country with bulk of its revenue in foreign exchange non stop from 1974 when oil prices began to appreciate in the world market till now.
However, Development and growth have been elusive all these years. With all the resources, Nigeria has not been able to fix electricity as an amenity that will accelerate economic development and provide easy comfort for the people in their homes. Small, medium and large scale economic activities still rely on ad hoc and comparatively expensive dependency on generators largely manufactured in countries that don’t even use them at all.
All manners of power generation are polluting the atmosphere in the country. Hydropower has been there all along but has never been exploited to capacity. We flare a good proportion of our gas here rather than convert them as fuel for electricity plants. Yes. We have a few of such plants; but we have potentials for much more. Investments in this direction is however weak and too slow. Solar energy possibilities are limitless. The technology to harness the power of the sun is improving by the day and prices are tumbling down.
Government involvement in the propagation of solar energy is next to nothing. Most of the plans to harness solar power for renewable energy are on paper. Nobody sees any concerted effort to move an inch towards using solar as part of the much needed energy mix.
With just 4,000 megawatts or thereabout power being rationed among industries of all sizes and among 200 million people, the time has come to mount pressure on the authorities to break this jinx once and for all. Do you know that Egypt has 38,000 megawatts of power and she is building more to cater for her industries and 98 million people? 12% of her energy sources is renewable energy—mainly solar. Does Egypt have more sunlight than Nigeria? The United Arab Emirates with 10 million people has 10,000 megawatts of power. The more comparisons we dare to make, the deeper we sink into frustration.
Let me make my own recommendation as a layman. The price of generators will remain what they are for the foreseeable future. The amount we pay for diesel and petrol won’t come down. A marked increase in public power supply won’t come to pass soon. So, as individuals and as owners of small scale businesses, my advice is go for solar energy. I know that this source of energy is not yet as popular as it ought to be even years before now. I also know that initial investment in solar energy is comparatively getting lower than the price of a generator that will supply the same quantity of power that solar energy will provide. Why not invest the same amount you have earmarked for a generator on acquisition of solar power? Little maintenance and no fuel required! For three years I have consistently used as small as 75 watts of solar power to charge my computer, my mobile phones and rechargeable fan. I can also light four bulbs and watch low powered television set. After the period of tests I am now prepared to de-emphasize public power supply and step up solar alternative. I have met some people who took the same decision a few years ago and they have continued to enjoy power without stress.