As a step towards addressing our power problems in Nigeria, how about the National Assembly passes a bill making it mandatory for us to manufacture the following pieces of equipment locally

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Transformers

[2] Generators

[3] Turbines

[4] Windmills

[5] Electric cables

[6] Solar panels

[7] Electricity meters

[8] Ancilliary equipment like fuses, valves, electricity keys, etc

[9] Circuit breakers that enable the substation to be disconnected from the transmission grid

[10] The busbar that can split the distribution power off in multiple directions

Solving our problems:

[1] Until we produce all these things locally, we have no moral right to complain about bad governance and power shortages

[2] People who cannot produce some of these very basic and simple things deserve to live in darkness

[3] We have not earned the right to live in the light as far as I am concerned

[4] Nigerians would somehow find the money to spray at owambes, pay tithes, go on religious pilgrimages, fund expensive chieftaincy titles, etc but cannot raise the cash to address their power needs

[5] As a people, we need to get our priorities right. I still cannot get my head how we are still importing generators when the market is begging for local producers

[6] Many of these importers are actually doing more harm to the Nigerian economy than public officials who steal money like Diezani and Ibori because they are depleting our Forex

[7] Our government needs to find a brutal way to force the issue of local manufacturing even if it means opening gulags

[8] Nigeria is way too dependent on imports to survive as an economy. You cannot sustain 200m people by purchasing their consumer needs on the open market

[9] Just imagine the number of jobs we would create if we launched an ambitious power sector manufacturing programme. We could get millions of those almajiris into factories

[10] We need to declare a state of emergency in the sector. This programme should include the setting of ambitious targets for sectors like clean energy a clear cur-off date when we expect to end blackouts permanently

ayoakinfe@gmail.com