In the wake of incessant National Grid collapse, state governments have been advised to build strong solar energy systems and mini grids as alternative sources of electricity.
Some residents of Makurdi in Benue State gave the charge in separate interviews on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
According to the residents, the recurring collapse of the national grid is becoming an embarrassing issue to Nigeria.
They, therefore, urged state governments to do everything possible to have alternative sources of energy to mitigate the impact of the persistent collapse of the national grid.
Mrs. Jennifer Tema, a 67-year-old restaurant owner, said that the regular collapse of the national grid had cost so much damage to her business.
Tema said she had been recording losses of her perishable foods worth millions of Naira as a result of the recurring power outage.
“In recent times, we have witnessed a bit of steady power supply, but this issue of the national grid has really cost me a lot of damage.
“My generator cannot take more than two freezers at a time. I lost over N2 million in the recent power outage. This is really affecting my business.
“I just hope that state governments will rise up to the occasion and get alternative energy sources for us to mitigate these losses,” she said.
Another resident, Dennis Tyosula, who operates a computer centre and betting shop in Makurdi, said lack of steady power supply was affecting his businesses.
Tyosula said he was buying fuel between N1,200 and N1,350 to power the generators at his two shops, and as a result was not making any profit, but incurring losses.
According to him, he uses between 16 and 18 litres of PMS daily when there is no power supply.
Meanwhile, a top staff member of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the government was not yet ready to resolve the issue of power outage in the country.
The source noted that top government officials in the power sector who were benefiting from the current system failure did not want the problem to be resolved.
According to the source, most of the officials have secretly acquired shares of the company and are only interested in getting profits on their shares.
“My brother, the problem in the power sector is not solely with us the distribution companies.
“Every new government has its officials in the sector who do not have the interest of the country at heart.
“All of them want the bad system to continue so that they too would benefit from it. There is no end in sight yet.
“The issue of national grid is the most embarrassing of all,” the source said.
The JEDC official also said Nigeria had the technology and manpower to handle its power challenges and curb the incessant power failure as a result of grid collapse.
“The only way forward for now is for states to build their mini grids or establish strong solar energy power sources in the interest of their citizens.
“It is high time we stopped relying on only one source of energy supply,” the source added.
By Emmanuel Antswen
