Analysts Bemoan Frequent National Grid Collapse, Urge Tinubu To Decentralise Power Sector

The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been rated below expectations in the power sector following the frequent collapse of the national grid since his regime came on board on May 29, 2023.

This is the opinion of some analysts who spoke on the recent collapse of the national grid on Wednesday. According to them, the Tinubu administration has not fared better than its predecessor in the power sector.

The Executive Director, of Leadership Entrepreneurship and Advocacy Network, Dr Chukwuma Okenwa, claimed that the national grid had collapsed more than ten times since the assumption of office of President Tinubu.

He said, “It is becoming overwhelming. The collapsing is becoming very incessant. The problem is the unwillingness of the politicians to give the nation’s energy sector to the technocrats. Those who are there are being frustrated.

“The whole thing boils down to corruption and lack of political will. Corruption is defined as the abuse of public office for private gains. Our leaders see the larger Nigerians as collateral to obtain foreign loans for squandering. The borrowed funds in the name of reviving the nation’s power sector run into billions of dollars, and there is nothing to show for it.”

He frowned at politicians who stash the country’s stolen funds abroad, adding, “Let them even invest these illicit funds in Nigeria to create wealth. Those that invest at home are better because at least they create jobs. That is the economic importance of corruption in the Nigerian context.”

Ken Offorma, a public affairs analyst, wondered why the energy sector is not decentralised. According to him, “The federal government privatised energy generation and distribution, but left the transmission in the hands of the government. Some realistic countries would have privatised all of them and then set up a strong regulatory agency to oversee the operations of the sector.

“We claim to be operating a federal system, but in earnest, it is unitary. Why can’t we decentralise the power sector and forget the so-called national grid? Over $5n has already been sunk at Mambilla power plant alone, and no positive result.”

Analysts Bemoan Frequent National Grid Collapse, Urge Tinubu To Decentralise Power Sector is first published on The Whistler Newspaper