A quick overview:Inadequate Power/Electricity is one of the reasons Nigeria is still underdeveloped.  When the Presidential task force on power submitted its proposal for the solution to this evil problem, the speaker of the house of representatives Mr. Demeji Bankole said the proposal did not cater for the multibillion dollar generator importing businesses in Nigeria and a little bit of hell is breaking loose. read more here.

Based on what I have read, I painfully have to say that I support Dimeji Bankole’s point of view. I say painfully because if the 150 million Nigerians stand according to how much they admire him, I will be the 150 millionth person. However, my opinion of him should not cloud my objectivity.

Lets look at this way, if you are earning a living from the status quo, why would you want it to change if it will affect your living? the status quo in power is deplorable, but the reality is, people  benefitting  from the bad situation will do anything to avoid it changing. To me that has been the challenge of progress in Nigeria.

Lets look at two more examples.

In transportation: It is rumoured (I believe the rumour) that Ekene dili Chukwu and co are the reason that Onitsha does not have an airport. There is no reason why Onitsha does not have an Airport! But their reasoning is that having an Airport will kill their businesses.

There is also no way that the Nigerian Railway will succeed without the support of the long distance haulers!

Road Construction: The reason why these wicked politicians keep constructing bad roads is the mentality that if the road does not spoil on time, how dem go take chop moni again?*

What these groups of people do not understand is that participating in the better alternatives is more profitable for them and much better from the larger society.

With this in mind, I believe Mr Bankole is right, the generator importers must be included in the plans. It should not but it is the reality.

I also think our greater challenge in moving forward is convincing this guys benefiting from the bad status quo that they can be more successful if they move to the other side.

With this in mind, I hope Barth Nnaji and the Presidential taskforce has plans for those who import generators and sell diesel to transition into the new power economy of Nigeria so we can successfully #LightUpNigeria

*Just in case you read this, hear are a few ideas.

1. Construct more roads, not reconstruct

2. Road maintenance has better margins.

8 thoughts on “#LightUpNigeria vs. Dimeji Bankole. Between What is and What Should Be.

  1. Tjbnpiphe biggest stakeholder here is the Nigerian citizen..Have we seen this “New Roadmap to Power Supply”?? Has it been shown to us for our buy-in?? Do we believe in the feasibility of the plan??? Or is it just yet another $Billion consuming WHITE ELEPHANT PROJECT that leaves us Nigerians worse off?? I honestly believe that’s the point The Speaker is trying to drive home to the “Sponsors” of this New Power Project – If we have spent money ($Billions) before and NOTHING HAS CHANGED for the better, then maybe the problem is not the funding; so do not come asking for MORE MONEY when nothing has changed in your approach to solving the problem (UNILATERALLY COMING UP WITH SOME SORT OF “MASTERPLAN”??)…not again…CARRY ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ALONG!!! CAN WE KEEP DOING THINGS THE SAME (WRONG) WAY AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT (RIGHT) OUTCOME???? HABA NIJA!!! Let us try to look beyond our noses and the “printed” lines..:-( God help us all…AMENThe biggest stakeholder here is the Nigerian citizen..Have we seen this “New Roadmap to Power Supply”?? Has it been shown to us for our buy-in?? Do we believe in the feasibility of the plan??? Or is it just yet another $Billion consuming WHITE ELEPHANT PROJECT that leaves us Nigerians worse off?? I honestly believe that’s the point The Speaker is trying to drive home to the “Sponsors” of this New Power Project – If we have spent money ($Billions) before and NOTHING HAS CHANGED for the better, then maybe the problem is not the funding; so do not come asking for MORE MONEY when nothing has changed in your approach to solving the problem (UNILATERALLY COMING UP WITH SOME SORT OF “MASTERPLAN”??)…not again…CARRY ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ALONG!!! CAN WE KEEP DOING THINGS THE SAME (WRONG) WAY AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT (RIGHT) OUTCOME???? HABA NIJA!!! Let us try to look beyond our noses and the “printed” lines..:-( God help us all…AMEN

  2. anyone who thinks #lightupnigeria will stop generator importation is making a mistake, because light CANNOT be on all the time. downtime is inevitable, hence the need for back-up power. with that in mind, i don’t think we need to ask anyone’s ‘permission’ before we carry out the Power Road Map. appeasement of these people has not worked in the past, and it won’t work now.

  3. Well put Oo. Does anyone have an idea on how this inclusion of the people benefiting from the bad “status quo” can be done? What suggestions are there to use to convince them that a better society is also to their benefit?

  4. Osita, for the records, you make some valid points, but not strong enough.

    Certain industries take away jobs from the Nigerian people. Certain industries hack away at our ability to grow as a country. Such industries ought to be treated as criminal enterprises and dealt with as such. It is that simple.

  5. Osita, for the records, you make some valid points, but not strong enough.

    Certain industries take away jobs from the Nigerian people. Certain industries hack away at our ability to grow as a country. Such industries ought to be treated as criminal enterprises and dealt with as such. It is that simple.

    1. ‎”Such industries ought to be treated as criminal enterprises and dealt with as such”
      Chxta so we should persecute those that import generators and diesel? Are they criminal offences?

      Yes they benefit but as someone pointed out, if there was power would they have grown in the first place? they filled a need, became too strong. The reality is that they have to be accommodated on any new solution.

    2. At the moment dear Osita, and given the current situation, they are not criminal enterprises, but are industries that are filling a need in the Nigerian market place, a VERY vital need.

      However, if a serious attempt is made at power reform …and these people turn around to sabotage that attempt simply to protect their ‘industry’ then they would have crossed the line, and then they should be treated as economic saboteurs.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *