By Idowu Oyebanjo
The
most worrisome thing is that those who are taking the lead in this matter do
not understand how Electric Current flows. If you make use of Knowledgeable
Power System Engineers of Nigerian descent, who work in the Electricity
Industries in the developed economies, most likely you will achieve better
results in less than four years. Ofcourse, these will work with qualified
Consultants who know their onions but because they already have a foothold,
they are more likely to get better value for money for Nigeria. The truth is
that not all foreign Consultants will want electricity in Nigeria because this
means Nigerians will leave their shores and return home, Nigerians will go to
Universities in Nigeria, world economics will change and the propensity for
Investment will shift to Nigeria to mention a few benefits that will result in
electrifying the nation in darkness.
(pix:Guardian)
The way
to go about this is to set up a summit to attract these Power Systems Engineers
of Nigerian descent and bring them together to brainstorm on these ideas and more
in support of this reform. They are everywhere and Government machineries could
be used to track them down. For example, the Association of Nigerians in
Diaspora was formed in the year 2000 by former president Obasanjo towards this
end and have no doubt being functioning well since then. This could be one
means of achieving this noble objective. The latest approach by SHELL Petroleum
Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), SHELL Nigeria Exploration and Production
Company (SNEPCO), Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), the UK
chapter of Nigerian in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) and the department for
Trade and Investment in the UK in establishing a knowledge sharing framework
and portal to boost Nigerian Content development and employment in the Oil and
Gas Industry is required in the Power Sector. It need not have waited this
long!
In a
sense, the exodus of Nigerians to the Western World, especially of
Professionals, is a blessing in disguise. What this will turn out to become is
that they have all proceeded, mostly at great cost to themselves, on training
and development that could not be obtained in the dark years past in Nigeria.
Well trained in best practice in their different endeavours, uninterrupted
electricity and improvement in security of life and property might encourage
some, not all of them, to return to make useful contribution in Nigeria.
The
framework described above will progressively increase the quantum of composite
value added to or created in the Nigerian economy, by a systematic development
of capacity and capability of Nigerians, and the deployment of her natural
resources and raw materials in the Power Industry. Thereafter, Nigerians will
be "exported" as technical aids to other African countries as well as
the developed economies with a view to recouping at least part of the
investment in these Engineers as a form of National income. However, if the
Investors who have bought the Discos do not have a clue as to how to run a
distribution network, and they have passed the technical evaluation by Nigerian
"Experts" who themselves know little about electricity Supply, there
is a risk that "there is no light" at the end of the tunnel for
Nigerians afterall. Only time will tell....
This
strategy will not only meet the most coveted objective of ensuring adequate
skilled capacity in-country, it empowers fellow Nigerians, keep them in the
frame work of international practice in the Energy/Power Industry and
contribute immensely to Local Content.
To
avoid the problem the Oil Industry is facing with the Petroleum Industry Bill
(PIB), we must all have a clear focus - "Nigerianization" of the
Power Industry is the path to follow!
*Idowu Oyebanjo contributed this article to SCRUPLES from the UK. He could be reached with
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