The state of electricity in my country is nothing compared to other countries that have steady power supply 24/7, it is disheartening on how the power holding companies will just wake up and then, there is a blackout everywhere meaning they just decided to turn off the electricity. I stay in Nigeria and yes my country has one of the biggest problems when it comes to electricity generation despite being one of the highest economy in the world yet the issue of electricity supply still persists.
It has become used to us that electricity can be shot down anytime and because of that we had an alternative which is Generator. Back then once there is a blackout, we immediately turn on our generator but it can’t be done all the time because of the petrol you have to purchase for it. There are some states and villages that suffer from power shortage, most of this villages have not seen light for some years now. I know you won’t believe me when I say that there some villages in this country that has been without electricity for more than three years. I got to know this when I was posted to Ondo state for my youth service, it was mentioned in the camp that a village in Ondo state has been without power supply for years and I prayed never to be posted there, I didn’t want a situation where I won’t be able to communicate with family and friends. I can imagine the situation the people over there are facing and yet the state government has said nothing concerning the situation of that community.
Nowadays, electricity works differently in each state and community, back then it was a direct power supply from the PHCN, then you have to pay monthly bills to the power holding company to get electricity, as time goes on, prepaid meters were introduced then solar panels. I have come to notice that prepaid meters is far better than direct power supply because you don’t have to pay outrageous bills by the end of the month, you choose the amount of units you want to recharge on your prepaid and you alone can monitor how you use it. The issue of power supply is still not stable as those in Band A enjoy more electricity than those in other bands. Since our band isn’t band A, we get light like 10-12 hours in a day unlike my friend who enjoys uninterrupted power supply because they’re in band A. I could recommend the last time I spoke to her and how she was laughing at me when I told her that there has been power outage for over two days, she told me that she has been enjoying light and for some days they haven’t taken their light. I was shocked, wondering if we were still in the same country.
All I can say for now is that there is no steady power supply here. I think the use of solar panels is still far better than prepaid because light is gotten directly from sunlight, the only issue solar panels has will be during rainy season but there are other renewable sources of energy that government can focus on such as energy from water, energy from wind and so on. I believe if solar can be combined with prepaid meters, life will be made easier with electricity generation because when there is a power outage, the solar can serve as an alternative for it.
I know that Nigeria is poor in renewable energy but the government can work harder to make it grow by creating awareness and professional services and also financing it. I believe with renewable energy in the country, there won’t be problem with lack of electricity or power shortage again.