Massive Investments In Power Generation Can Resolve Energy Crisis - Sam Adeyemi

Rev. Sam Adeyemi Looking for solution to the epileptic power supply in the country is already assuming another dimension, as stakeholders now seek different means towards alleviating the problem. REV. SAM ADEYEMI, the Senior Pastor of Day Star Christian Centre, Lagos, in this interview with SOLA OLUWADARE, explains his motive for recently leading over 5,000 youths on awareness march of power situation in the country in Lagos metropolis and other issues. Excerpts:

WHAT informed your decision to embark on this cam- paign of ‘Walk for Light?’
You see, we cannot all just sit down and be looking. We know that there are many issues to be resolved by the Federal Government; but that of the power supply is very important in our national life. Things have gone from bad to worse; and where we are going from there, I cannot just say. It is high time Nigerians focused on issues and leave personalities. 5,000 youths walking the streets is just the beginning. It is just to launch the campaign. We have big plans for this later in future.

But how much has it affected the church that you decided to go on a rally?
The people in the church did not drop from heaven. We must appreciate that the church does a lot of things in this country. The church will, therefore, campaign the change if others are not ready for it. We must not perpetually remain in slavery.

Leadership is not just occupying a position; leadership is influence; and the church is taking the responsibility to build leaders - leaders who are looking for what to give, not what to get. We are standing, on behalf of the church, to say “no” to this decaying system. God said “Let there be light and there was light,” so, that’s what we are doing.

Last year alone, we spent N100,000 on generating sets; not two, not three. We also budgeted N56 million for diesel; that is for a church, not a factory. Individuals and businesses must be going through tough times. Epileptic power supply has impoverished and still impoverishing us. Lives have been lost to explosions caused by kerosene and petrol. Recently, a whole family died in their sleep due to petrol explosions. Families have been lost due to fumes from power generating sets. Small and large businesses have gone under due to inability to sustain the high cost of production. The list of woes goes on. Life expectancy in our country is now 42 years; so, the church must be seriously involved.

President Yar’Adua said there was no going back in meeting 6,000 megawatts by December, but one former Minister of Power said it was not realisable, how do you see the confusion?
Well, we also believe that he wants to do something because that 6,000 megawatts was part of his campaign. Maybe when he got there, he saw something that his eyes had not seen before; and obviously, he cannot say what he can see. Sometimes ago, he said he saw a cartel in the system. Sincerely, that is frustrating. That the minister said that it was not realisable would not surprise Nigerians. Mr President should stop trying; he cannot do it alone. Even the 6,000 megawatts is too low a target. We learnt that Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom alone consumes 6,000 megawatts. We commend the Federal Government for steps taken so far to improve power generation and distribution in our country.

However, their efforts have not yielded much result. We, therefore, challenge all Nigerians to rise up to take on the issues involved head on. We cannot leave this important area of our life to government officials. We must deploy our collective will to confront this monster that has kept us in underdevelopment and penury. We believe that problems exist to be solved. We can solve this one, God helping us.

Don’t you see anything wrong with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria?
The simple solution is that the Federal Government should break the monopoly of PHCN and allow states and private investors to generate and distribute electricity. The type of policy formulation that addressed the sloppiness in Nigeria’s telecommunication sector should be made to work for power supply. Those who are investing in the telecom sector are not complaining; they are making money. There is no limit on the number of phone lines a company can generate and distribute around the country.

Private sectors and state governments should be licensed to generate and distribute power. States in the Niger Delta, currently flaring gas in their backyards, should generate and sell electricity locally and nationally. We learnt Lagos State government has made the attempt in the past; but it was sent to the national grid. We call on Nigerians at all levels in the generation, distribution and consumption of electricity to accept honesty as a national standard and as a way of life.

What of those who are sabotaging the system?
Well, it is clear that some people are profiting in the system, from the way it is; but some government officials have genuine interest. Government officials should be made to be accountable to us. We need to demand it.

The waste is enormous. All forms of deal-cutting in the award and execution of contracts must stop. Stealing and vandalising electricity cables and transformers must also stop. Dishonesty and the greedy acquisition of money (though that may bring temporary prosperity) ultimately attract curses on individuals and the nation. To prosper as a nation, corruption cannot be an option for us. We call on importers of generating sets and diesel, who have graciously helped to provide relief through their products, to support this call; and to subsequently divert their investments into power generation and distribution.

How do you wish to pass the message to the National Assembly?
First of all, we are the government. The people in the National Assembly, too, are also buying the diesel to fuel their generators; so, they are part of it all. There are people there that also have the same understanding, and we know that they will listen to us. We felt there must be a change in our approach to issues.

The rally was a peaceful one; we are not protesting; we are only calling the awareness of the government to this decay, and we know they will listen to us. We also implore the executive and legislative arms of government at the local, state and federal levels to reason with Nigerians, demonstrate leadership and facilitate the breaking of PHCN’s monopoly.

How do you want to carry other stakeholders along in this campaign?
I want to assure you that all parts of this country will be touched by this campaign. We have our plans and mindset. We are going to cooperate with other organisations to pass the message across. A website has been created to showcase our activities; and it was beamed live during the rally. We are going to follow up that by interacting on that website. We want every concerned individual to key in to that, and we shall achieve our aims.

So where do we go from here?
You see, we have cultural problems; but with respect to leadership, and I think, it’s Africa’s problem. We need to deal with cultural issues; it makes a leader too powerful to manage. Leadership must be delegated to others; our leaders must be accountable to us. It is a collective thing to have electricity in Nigeria. We can do it. The least we can do, as individuals, is to speak out. Words are powerful. Let us begin by saying, with confidence, that all will be well with our national life.