'Problem Has Changed Name...Please Hold Candle Now!!'

The Power Holding Company of Nigeria(abbreviated PHCN),formerly the National Electric Power Authority(abbreviated NEPA)is an organisation governing the use of electricity in Nigeria.The company runs a football team,Nepa Lagos.The merger of the Niger Dam Authorities(NDA-setup in 1962 to develop the economic potentials of the Niger River)and Electricity Cooperation(ECN-created by the government in 1950 to generate and transmit power nationally)culminated to the National Electric Power Authority(NEPA-which is an agency established as a semiautonomous government activity).As part of its mandate,the NDA had constructed the Kainji Dam and associated hydroelectric plant,which began operations in 1968.NEPA changed its nomenclature to PHCN.For several years despite consistent perceived cash investment by the Federal Government,power outages have been the standard for the Nigerian populace,and are now see as normal by the citizens of the country.The government divided the current PHCN distribution sector into seperate companies or entities that will be called Local Electric Distribution Companies or Local Distributio Companies(LDC)among the regions.The law which established NEPA in 1972 stipulated that it should develop and maintain an efficient,co-ordinated and economical system of electricity supply for all parts of Nigeria.Thirty seven years after,we're still in the doldrums as far as power availability is concerned.At the inception of NEPA in 1973,only five of the then 19states capitals were connected to the national transmission grid system.Today practically all state capitals and other cities are being served from the national grid,although haphazardly.In April 2005,the Bureau of Public Enterprises(BPE),named the Power Holding of Nigeria(PHCN),as the new government incorporated body that till take over all assets and liabilities of the National Electric Power Authority(NEPA),preparatory to the full privatisation of electricity generation and distribution in the country.National Electric Power Authority was christened 'Never Expect Power Always' because of the incessant 'blackouts' experienced by the people.Power Holding Company of Nigeria has also been christened 'Problem Has Changed Name' or 'Please Hold Candle Now'.Evidently,these names are products of the angry populace that have been receiving epileptic power supply from the company.It is quite interesting to know that we are expecting just 6000megawatts of power before the end of this year.Already,we are just producing and using about 2900megawatts. A comparative analysis of electric energy generation in other countries places Nigeria at a relatively bottom scale.The United States of America generates 500,000megawatts for the population of about 260million.United Kingdom generates 42,000 megawatts for the population of about 60million.South Africa generates 23,000 megawatts for its population of about 45,000million while Argentina generates 9,500 megawatts for its population of about 32million.Nigeria generates only 2,900 megawatts for a population of over 140million.What a misnomer! In May 29 2003,Obasanjo promised to increase our electricity generation to 10,000 megawatts by 2007,all to no avail. The backwardness of Nigeria in the energy sector is a sad reflection of our economic retrogression inspite of our purported wealth.This is a tragic manifestation of poor and ineffective leadership since our political independence in 1960.Power availability is a critical index in economic and industrial evolution.PHCN is confronted with reckless development of towns which hampers its efforts.Such distortions create immense problems.In most cases,small industries suddenly spring up in areas planned as residential.Transformers and cables are overloaded till they are damaged because PHCN is not notified when new loads are added to existing ones.Where I live,power is being shared,you have it today and manage darkness tomorrow.Even the day you are to have power,you may not see it.Bills are always manipulated.After each month of erratic,inconsistent power supply,you only receive 'fat' bills from PHCN and face the embarrassment of being disconnected if you fail to pay on time.They only assume,fix and send bills to their 'cheated' customers.They send the bill of a month that has not expired.Some Nigerians have resorted to playing hide and seek with them -people now intentionally commit what is known as 'rocking'.They devise other ways of dodging the payment of bills.It is like the change of name did not bring any reasonable improvement in PHCN.They still remain the same inefficient and corrupt organisation.Since 1st of July 2005,NEPA became PHCN but it is like the change of name has only given us difficulties in learning how to shout UP PHCN! Dont go and sell your generator if you have one.I once said that electricity should be the 'one point agenda' for the leadership of this country.PHCN needs to change their modus operandi and not just their name!!