Power generation in Nigeria dropped from a peak of 4,224.9MW on Sunday to 3,844.3MW by 6am on Monday, data obtained from the Federal Ministry of Power show.
Coincidentally, November 1, 2021 made it exactly eight years that the power sector was officially privatised.
Operators had stated that electricity on the grid on November 1, 2013 when the sector was privatised was around 3,400MW, meaning that the sector had been struggling with power generation and supply in the past eight years.
The highest peak power ever generated and transmitted in Nigeria was 5,802MW on March 1, 2021 at 9.30pm. It was evacuated at a frequency of 50.09 hertz.
Commenting on the poor electricity production despite the privatisation of the sector, the President, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo, said it was high time that the government reviewed the privatised sector.
He said, “Exactly eight years ago, the power sector was privatised and there was a paradigm shift from public sector-driven business model to a supposedly private sector driven business model.
“Taking a glossary look at the general performances of the power sector, the picture is fluid and toxic and there is little or nothing to celebrate. Today, after the distribution companies manage to pay the monthly salaries of staff there is usually no other money to invest in improving their networks.”
He stated that Nigeria had no accurate customer data, adding that this was conservatively put at between eight million to 12 million.
“Without credible data it will be difficult to plan and be taken seriously. Tariff is usually tied to customer data. Data is needed for mass meter roll out,” Olubiyo stated.
He added, “The post privatisation bitter experiences of the end users of electricity in Nigeria have been reduced to a scam of sort. And it seems to the end users that Nigerians have been sold a dummy.”
The Executive Secretary, Association of Power Generation Companies, Joy Ogaji, had recently in Abuja lamented over the power situation in Nigeria, saying, “at privatisation on November 1, 2021, power was slightly above 3,400MW.”
– Punch