OPINION… THE GENERATOR REPUBLIC: Nigeria’s most expensive national shame

Nigeria's electricity woes have persisted for six decades since gaining independence, leaving citizens grappling with unreliable power supply. The nation boasts the sixth largest crude oil producer, the largest cassava producer globally, and is home to the most populous black country. This raises the unsettling question of why Nigerians still endure darkness.

Despite billions invested in the sector and claims of generating over 5,000 megawatts, the average 4,758MW remains insufficient for dependable electricity. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission reported that out of the 4,758MW available for dispatch in August, 4,102MW was utilized, highlighting a perplexing paradox. The generator has become a national embarrassment, straining pockets and polluting the environment.

It serves as an unofficial power station, straining lungs and causing economic and environmental degradation. The Nigerian generator is not just an appliance but a symptom of a country that has privatized public infrastructure, leaving citizens to become their own electricity providers. Only the wealthy can afford solar systems and inverters, while the poor endure darkness or spend disproportionately on expensive electricity.

The World Bank acknowledges the challenge and aims to achieve universal electricity access by 2030 through distributed renewable energy like mini grids and standalone solar systems. However, the ongoing reliance on generators reveals the inequitable arrangement and the dire need for better power infrastructure in Nigeria.