Babatunde Raji Fashola and the Power Sector Challenges. - By Morgan @Adungbe.

Their is no doubt that this are not the best of time for Nigerians especially the masses of the nation whose means of livelihood depends on availability of power for effective business transactions.

Power production has greatly reduced from 4,600MW to 1,580.6 MW within months, the implications of this reduction is seen in the lack of required power to distribute to Disco's which has turned the country to a dark nation, reports had it that some disco's that do have supply of 350MW now has as low as 181.77MW. This inform the black out we now experience again as a nation, and the  low income earners that depends on power to survive are helpless.

To make matters worst, we have in the recent time had long cues in our gas stations, due to unsubstantiated reasons, and in the  event of such scarcity, the black marketers uses the avenue to further exploit the end users with increase in price. The two major requirements for daily activities thus were scarce and to make matters worst no viable finance to back the sudden increment when one need to get black market to power generator either for homes or for business. But despite all this 'hardship', Nigerians are passing through they are still resilient on moving forward with believe that somebody somewhere will do the needful and put permanent end to the hardship and not temporary one.

The excuse just like we have had over time for the reduction is as a result of renewed pipeline vandalization across the country. One wonder why it's difficult for the concerned authority to nip this in the bud rather than telling Nigerians that why they don't have light is because of vandalization.

With this background, the question that comes to ones mind is what are our concerned authority doing about the power sector, what should be done to ensure stability and to meet the set target laid by Minister of Power, Housing and Works at his inception as a Minister of the Federal republic, coupled with the challenges within the sector.

Since inception of Fashola as Minister of Power, Housing and Works, the power sector has been in the front burner, not because the Minister is Fashola but rather the ministry has been of great concern to the country and our economy, and Nigerians expect a quick turn around from the sector considering the antecedents of BRF as Governor of Lagos State. With the recent development which interestingly followed the upward review of tariffs done which was resisted by Labour Unions, their is need to have an holistic review of the variables and input of the government so as to rebuild confidence in the sector after it's been privatized by the last administration. Part of the main reason why we supported the increase in tariff as against the traditional estimated bill are for times like this. Now that their is low distribution from the Disco's, those with prepaid meters won't be made to pay for what they did not consume. It's in this regard that we once more make clarion call for the speedy implementation of pre paid meters for houses which will enable the end users regulate and know what he consume.

The current situation no doubt is pathetic but its times like this the Minister's oral will be needed to drive the sector forward and put it on the expected pedestal which is long over due. The immediate task before the Honorable Minister is thus to think outside the box in best way to resolve and tackle the issue of pipeline vandalization which has been a major impediments in ensuring that we get to the optimal level of power generation. It's obvious that, the report of vandalization is usually recorded when we have had and recorded increase power generation. The remote cause should be a major concern to the Minister and all that is needed to nip it in the bus for sustainable power generation will be a major landmark achievement that the minister can record. He also need to rally round the stakeholders within the power sector at times like this to find the best practices within the sector, by so doing suggestions on means of optimizing power generation by the generating plants and sustaining it will no doubt renew trust in his leadership capacity and by so doing increase the distribution for the end users.

Their cant be any other best time than this period in the history of power sector as it should afford the Minister opportunity to call for review of power sector reform and produce a reliable implementation strategy as against some of what we currently have which didn't take some variable factors into considerations.  While he is doing this, the stakeholders need to work with him and all must fish out the fifth columnist whose duty is to constantly run down the sector and make all ministers of power look as if not capable to man the sector. The cabals need to be tactically unveiled and show the way out. It's by so doing that the increase in tariff will make more sense to the consumers and people will have value for their money. Once power generation shortcomings is been addressed no doubt to distribute won't be problem with the current existing Disco's as they know the more they distribute the more their earnings.

We all thus must support the Minister to carry out this required reforms so as to get the sector right at this period of our nation history. Unbundling the three ministry at this juncture will take us far back to planning stage. We need to sustain this and give required support needed for the him to succeed.

Morgan Omodu
Political Secretary to
Former Speaker House of Reps, Hon. Dimeji Bankole.