Opinion
Tackling A Perennial National Shame (II)
This is the concluding part of this article publsihed last week Friday.
I think what has happened over the years with our power generation is a manifestation of our collective failure in certain critical sectors of our life. Like most Nigerians of my generation, I still remember vividly NEPA’s embarrassing nickname: ‘Never Expect Power Always” and NEPA unfortunately lived up to that expectation in those days. Regrettably, the verdict is even harsher today. PHCN is nicknamed: Please Have Candle Nearby, a reality that is inseparable from the rebranded power company.
Sadly, there is a widely held view that Nigeria has the world’s biggest concentration of small-scale generators. Again, two-thirds of all power generators are located in backyards and balconies of peoples’ houses, and at a whooping cost of $13 billion a year. Among generator dealers also, government is believed to be their biggest and best client in Nigeria. The grim reality however is that Nigeria may be in for a long night except there is an urgent intervention.
I had thought that by now, President Goodluck Jonathan’s ambitious road map on power would have effectively exhausted the contending areas of the power reform act. Regrettably, the Federal Government is not keeping to the timelines and only a few believe the requisite political will is available. Nigerians too have suddenly become cynical particularly with the new tariff in June that came without any significant improvement in power supply
Another strand to the problem is the issue of policy and its implications. In the absence of good policies over the years, power infrastructure naturally suffered criminal neglect and abandonment. Anybody willing to take the pains of conducting a facility audit of PHCN may still find obsolete equipment of defunct NEPA built before and after the war litter our landscape.
But I am optimistic that as a people, we have all it takes to completely rebuild the power sector. I have personally refused to join other voices that daily sing PHCN’s elegy because I can see light at the end of this darkness.
The good news however, is that we are all gradually coming to terms with some truth about the configuration of electricity management in our country and what may become of its future if urgent steps are not taken. Everybody agrees that the bulk of the national power company’s major problem comes mainly from the fact that for many years, the Federal Government took charge of generating, transmitting and distributing electricity either directly or indirectly in the entire country and even beyond. Things can no longer continue like this. As far as I am concerned, the only way forward for us is full deregulation. And I am convinced that deregulation will naturally address all the myriad of problems facing the sector.
Luckily for the country, some visionary State governors already have impressive power framework waiting for full implementation. They have also done tremendous work in the area of infrastructural development, particularly as it affects power plants. I know that the Niger Delta States, by their location and natural resource advantage, have the capacity to generate and distribute power. And the Federal Government has everything to gain by looking in the direction of these forward-looking States. If for instance the Federal Government removes the Niger Delta States from the national grid, then they would have found 20 per cent solution to the power problem in Nigeria.
In Rivers State, a clear case of a model State, the State government under the leadership of Governor Chibuike Amaechi already has 500 megawatts. As a matter of fact, Rivers State needs only 400 megawatts, so they have 100 megawatts in excess. In addition, the State has invested substantially in upgrading PHCN’s facilities and in many cases, building new transmission and generating facilities. Yet, the State cannot distribute because there is a provision in the law that bars it. The implication is that any power generated must be transferred to the national grid and this is denying the people the opportunity of reaping from their investment. This also raises the question of devolution of powers.
By owning over 80 per cent of power infrastructure in the country, the Federal Government is obviously biting more than it could chew. Power, in my considered opinion, is too sensitive and serious to be left entirely to the Federal Government. And definitely not a federal government that claims not to have the fund to deal with the capital intensive electricity infrastructure.
I know as a matter of fact that PHCN, its subsidiaries and the Federal Government are indebted to Rivers State for power supplied from the State’s gas turbine facility. Apart from its indebtedness, there seems to be no hope in sight that either PHCN or Federal Government is ready to reimburse Rivers State for its heavy investment in power transmission and distribution infrastructure.
For me, the way to go is to address all the competing issues. Apart from encouraging capable States such as Rivers by entrusting them with the power to distribute, the Power Reform Act must also necessarily run its full course and extensive reforms must be seen in the power sector. We must put an end to rhetoric and grandstanding.
As stakeholders, there is need for all of us to join hands and confront this demon that has remained a stumbling block to our growth and development. This, to me is the biggest form of transformation because with regular power supply, Nigeria would have engendered competition, encouraged productivity, strengthened our industrial base and effectively tackled unemployment, crime and other vices. And there could not have been a better time.
Hon. Peterside, a member of House of Representatives is Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).
Dakuku Peterside
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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