NIGERIAN POWER SCANDAL: AUTHORITY STEALING

When Yar'Adua became President last year, he committed himself to deciphering Nigeria's power mess. Earlier this year, Nigeria's Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan's meeting was interrupted by 'power holding' on the part of PHCN (NEPA's new and improved name). This incident was closely followed by another embarrassing moment when on the 3rd of March, President Yar'Adua's speech was brought to a screeching halt when there was a power outage in Kaduna. Yar'Adua issued an 18 month ultimatum on power.

It is amazing how embarrassment can motivate people. In this case, make it an entire government. These embarrassing power cuts, constant media reports about future reductions in power supply, and Yardy's declared 'Vision 2020'* plan have 'put pepper' on the backside of legislators and the National Assembly is now having hearings into the true nature of Nigeria's failed power sector. This scandal is, unfortunately, a reflection of Nigeria in its malaise -inability breeding inability. Deficient 'leaders' in positions of power failing to produce the results that are expected over and over again.

STORY, STORY...STORY, ONCE UPON A TIME....

A special Committee on Power and Steel began probing whether or not $10 billion or $16 billion had been 'spent' by the former administration on addressing electricity issues. These hearings, which are being played out on national television, have revealed that six power stations that have been fully paid for are yet to be completed. Additionally, a South African company, Pivot, paid to maintain the Mambila power station has not even taken the first steps towards operating the station. Further inquiries have also illustrated that the former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave out power contracts left and right without following legal requirements. He apparently overrode the authority of the Ministry of Energy and personally picked and chose who got contracts in the power sector.

DEMOCRACY AT WORK

We must commend the House of Representative's Committee on holding these hearings and exposing for the nation, and the world, the deep rot of corruption that plagues Nigeria's ability to generate sufficient electricity. This is democracy at work. Nigerians are able to watch their televisions, listen to their radios, read newspapers and discuss with their friends the serious issues raised by this scandal.

Some of the revelations from the probe are startling and the Committee has called Yardy to appear and answer questions. The Committee is considering whether or not to require Obasanjo to appear for questioning, despite revelations that he benefited from many of the contracts doled out in the power sector. I can only wonder whether or not Nigerians will still sit with their hands on their chin in wonderment, or if they will actually demand action i.e. that OBJ appear before the House of Representative's Committee and answer questions, that Yardy keep his promise to tackle the power crisis faced by millions and that any individual or corporate entity regardless of their wealth, power or access to the powerful elite actually face the wheels of justice if they have a direct link to the nation's failed power sector. Only time will tell whether Nigerians will demand better treatment from those charged with serving the people's needs.

WE ARE OUR OWN WORST ENEMY

Why are we going through all this? Why have we paid companies, foreign and domestic, to provide the means necessary for power generation when there were very capable companies that could have done the job? I posit that this scandal simply highlights corruption and the need to "chop" that is pervasive in Nigeria. Obasanjo and friends shared the power/electricity cake amongst themselves and kept out companies that could have actually done a good job at moving Nigeria several steps further in the trek towards development via adequate power supply. Imagine, Nigerians rely on generators to power their fridges but not their televisions, or power their computers and not their microwaves. The majority of Nigerians do not even have powerlines to dream of having any electricity and/or do not have the money to purchase generators and the diesel needed to power them.

In case you are wondering what companies could have handled this situation, may I present Income Electrix Limited, a Nigerian controlled power company that has successfully completed the first phase of a 36 megawatts Independent Power Plant (IPP) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone's Minister of Energy commended Income Electrix for their competency and their ability to complete this phase of the project with only 10 weeks. Income Electrix Limited is currently working with PHCN to institute pre-paid metres for electricity users.

We are, quite simply, our own worst enemies.

OBASANJO'S TRUE LEGACY

I've said this before and will say this again, OBJ did some good things for Nigeria, but his legacy will staunchly reflect his failures to observe basic rules that were already in place. For instance, when he brought Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to run the Ministry of Finance? Her salary contract caused consternation because it denominated her pay in U.S. dollars and not Naira, Nigeria's currency. That was in direct conflict with laws already in place that required all Nigerian officials to be paid in Naira. Additionally, Obasanjo's decision to elevate Ribadu to Assistant Inspector General as a means to keep him in office after the transition to Yar'Adua's administration plays a key role in the current confusion that Nigerians are experiencing.

Nevertheless, unlike the Okonjo-Iweala and Ribadu case were the laws were unclear, there were clear laws in place to regulate how and when contracts were given to companies, OBJ apparently usurped the entire process and possibly turned it into a financial boom for himself and his associates. This attitude of OBJ's - that people in power can do what he wants -seems to be a recurring theme now that the country is reviewing many of the actions of the former administration. No wonder Yardy came into office and made 'Rule of Law' his mantra. In retrospect, the rule of law was categorically lacking in the previous administration and although the jury is still out on Yar'Adua, one can at least commend his administration for creating an environment where the failures of former elected officials can be reviewed and analyzed. For the Fela fanatics, all one has to say is 'Authority Stealing' to put this story and its fallout into context.

So, like my fellow Nigerians, I sit in earnest to see whether Yardy and the legislature will go one step further than mere probes and solve Nigeria's power crisis by creating a reliable power grid, solving the Niger Delta crisis to fuel thermal powered power stations, and provide an opportunity for Nigeria's poor and middle class to advance.

* - Still seeking additional insight into Vision 2020.

Further Reading:

- Nigerian Power Scandal: Authority Stealing

- Power Blackouts Loom Across Nigeria

- Solar Energy Plans

- Could Coal Power Be A Solution

- Nigeria Is Full of Gas

- Who Will Develop Nigeria?

- Who Will Develop Nigeria Pt. 2

- Patrick Obahiagbon - My Favorite Parliamentarian?

- Nigeria: Arithmetic Problems in High Places (GrandioseParlor.com)

UPDATE: OBASANJO 'DASHED' $50 MILLION TO NON-EXISTENT COMPANIES ON ACCOUNT OF NIGERIA'S POWER SECTOR!