By Oluwafemi Popoola

In recent weeks there has been a surge in the distribution of power supply in many parts of the country. That development has led many Nigerians overtly worried as the situation continues to give an alien feel.

Last month, precisely, on Thursday, September 1, 2022, electricity generation was reported to have peaked at a record high of 5,043 megawatts (MW) which is an 8.1% increase when compared to 4,664MW recorded a day before. And with a daily average power generation of 94,281.68MWh in August, the power distribution has undoubtedly improved drastically.

To many, this is the clearest manifestation of the recent policy changes being introduced to the power sector by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

This is coming at the back of the heels of a labour Union strike action in August of this year where electricity workers had embarked on a nationwide industrial action that plunged the whole nation into darkness.

The electricity workers were protesting non-payment of outstanding arrears owed by former workers of defunct PHCN, suspension of conditions of service and other demands. Although the strike action couldn’t last 48 hours the ripple effect of the nationwide blackout was said to have made DisCos lose an estimated N2.94 billion in potential revenue.

However, the upward trend of the power supply in the country has made many citizens begin to commend the Federal Government for improving the power situation in the country just within a couple of months that the electricity workers turned off gas turbines and power plants and grounded the operations of the TCN. They were, afterwards, accused by many of ‘economic sabotage” and “subversion against the nation.”

However, all those have been put behind, and the reality of the power supply in the country has improved drastically. Many Nigerians are testifying to it noting it is a huge step in the right direction.

Observing the situation on Twitter and other social media channels many have described it as the first time in two decades that Nigerians have experienced an uninterrupted power supply.

They bared their minds across many social media channels narrating their experiences across several homes, confirming the improvement of the electricity supply.

Many of them are seen on social media expressing their joy and satisfaction regarding the situation while others wondered asking what the Federal Government had done differently that facilitated the changes.

Also confirming the situation, the Ikeja Electric Company wrote on its Twitter account, “In one word, how is the power supply in your area?”

Many Twitter users jumped on the post praising the government for such an intervention. Some also jokingly expressed their tiredness of enjoying the extravagant power supply.

One Twitter user, Wizchy, in reacting to the post wrote, “Please take the light, I don taya.”

Raphael Ifeanyi while commenting on the said post also wrote. “Abeg take am small, I don taya to dey buy units.

In an independent post made by one Jerry Koko Durojaiye, commenting via @kokomatic wrote, “Is Buhari trying to force electricity supply on us in Nigeria? This uninterrupted power supply is suspicious. @SERAPNigeria said, “please help us sue the president over this matter.”

“Omo electricity has improved, I have not turned on my generator in weeks. It seems APC wants to campaign with electricity because I honestly don’t understand this. I like it sha,” Eze @AdannaPapa tweeted.

Martins Ezea said, “E Be like say na Electricity, APC wan use do campaign because I no understand the stability these days.”

Savage Gentleman @Fel Steve also has a similar experience. “E be like say na electricity, APC wan use do campaign because I no understand the stability these days.”

Also, Bashir Aliyu Limanci, in a Facebook post wrote “Electricity supply in Nigeria has never been that stable for almost two decades. For the first time in my adult life, my home has been enjoying an uninterrupted power supply for two weeks. The streak is likely to continue since rainfall no longer leads to the disruption of supply.”

President Muhammadu Buhari, had, in March 2020, appointed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to head the Power Sector Reform Coordination Working Group to consolidate the efforts of the federal and state governments to fix the power sector.

As a good administrator who has delivered successfully on national assignments put in his care both in the past and present, especially in creating a welfare state, Prof Osinbajo has again proven to be the right man for the job.

In essence, what is being experienced in the power sector is a product of the work being done by the presidential Power Sector Reform Coordination Working Group set to restore the lost efficiency in the nation’s “powerhouse” for the overall benefit of Nigerians.

When we have leaders whose primary interest is to make life easier for Nigerians, things will be good for all.

Now, it is confirmed that these leaders, Buhari and Osinbajo are not corrupt, no record of it.

So, let's look out for their replica in power in 2023, that is the only way forward to sustain the developments we see around.

Electricity has actually improved

We can all agree that there has been tremendous improvement in power supply across the country

There is no doubt about it that Buhari/Osinbajo administration cut accros all sectors and still counting ,good leadership to follow

Perhaps the Siemens work is going as promised.