In Need Of Legislation On Generator Use

The continuous inability of the Federal Government to fulfill its promise of giving Nigerians regular power supply has become a blessing to the manufacturers and retailers of generators in the country. As the government fails to meet its target date, many members of the generator cartel must be smiling all the way to the bank shouting hurray.

Unarguably, we are the largest importers of generators in the world. By this, we support many industries in the generator exporting countries many of whom deride us because they profit from our woes.

There is a high demand for generators and so there are vendors or suppliers of the product in virtually every street. Advertisers have a field day in generator adverts, urging consumers to purchase the latest brand. By urging us to buy generators of all kinds, we have accepted our fate as perpetual generator consumers.

The use of generators has indeed become a stark reality starring  us in the face. Designed in various forms and sizes with varying price tags, generators have become the main source of power in the country while Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) generated light is on standby. For this reason, power shortages are no longer news in Nigeria because there are always generators in waiting to provide alternative power supply. As a result, generators and their maintenance are now part of household bills.

In countries that are less endowed than Nigeria, power outages make news. For instance, a recent massive power outage in Brazil’s  two cities made news. Paraguay,  a Latin American country, recently lost power for 20 minutes and it made the news. In other countries, when dinners are taken by candle light during power outage, they make news. But millions of Nigerians do that daily for years. It will not be news worthy in Nigeria even if the entire nation is engulfed in a total darkness for erratic power supply. That is why potential investors are hardly attracted to transact business in the country.

For instance, recent reports had it that but for the erratic power situation in the country, Nokia would have established a factory in Nigeria.

The situation is that bad that luxury apartments in high brow areas of our cities are listed as having generating plants and that determines the rent.

On the domestic font, virtually every household has invested in generators. Just take  a walk down the streets of Port Harcourt and other cities particularly at night, you would be amazed at the number of generators that are at work. Some of the generators are used at crowded settlements, thus posing tremendous environmental hazard. The stains and sludge of black oil seeping out from the generators could disfigure the landscape.

Those who live in rooming accommodation (face to face) have to put up with the inconvenience of their neighbours’ generators. Stories of people losing their lives  from the inhalation of fumes are all too  common. Health issues have also come to the fore with the generator culture we have forcibly imbibed.

Beyond the environmental hazard, generators have  negative impact on our economy. They gulp trillions of naira worth of fuel or diesel yearly. Small and medium businesses have also been hit by the incessant power failure and many of them have resorted either to the use of generators or have shut down. Those that have managed to survive, transfer the high cost of doing business to the consumer.

The reality is that without power or energy, we cannot build a modern economy. We planned to generate 5,000 megawatts by December last year. But many of us who looked forward  to making it a date with December were disappointed.

Since we have decided to remain as a generator importing nation, it is expedient for the government at various tiers to build specialist hospitals that will take care of those who might suffer generator – pollution associated ailments.

Another way to reduce the effect of generator pollution is for the federal and  state  governments  to regulate its use. This could be done by enacting a legislation that will specify how it should be utilized and the sanctions for offenders.

Arnold Alalibo