Lets Try Solar Power

I just read in the papers that yet another gas pipeline has been blown up by militants in the Niger Delta ,just like most things in Nigeria- 'we've heard it all before' or like someone would say . . .'here we go again'. The same old story of epileptic power supply yet again.

I have always wondered why we have never taken solar power generation seriously?

We seem to have it in abundance,yet we make little use of it. The over reliance on gas & hydrothermal power generation seems to be the bane of this issue.

Government(federal but especially state) need to take a serious look at this. . . .

Give each state of the Federation an Oil Block

That most people have been advocating for true federalism for many years is not new,the fact that this idea has many antagonists isn't also new.

The main concern expressed by anagonists of this idea has always been that the non-oil producing states will loose their main(and probably sole) source of revenues,thereby rendering the states coomatose.

I say we resolve this significant concern by giving each non-oil producing state (NOPS)an oil block. They will be resposible for exploration and exploitation and also for the marketing,sales and other associated logistics of dealing in oil.

My guess is the revenues from these 'oil sales' will get closer to the Nigerian people,very much unlike the current inefficiently multi-layered and corrupt system involving the Federal govt and NNPC,PTDF etc. We don't need Abuja to first collect money then distribute,rather,each state should pay taxes,to the communities and the federal government. So when the FG puts together a budget,its based not on an unending pot of oil revenue ,but on identifiable taxes(custom duties,included).

Of course this also means ,most of the responsibilities of the FG will go to the rightful 'owners' of the problem-the states,things like police,roads,schools,hospitals etc.

Cynics mught say,the states would be even more corrupt,well my simple answer is that my state governor is closer to me in Alausa,than some distant figure in Aso Rock ;who would be in a better position to decide whether I should have a primary healthcare centre in my ward ?

The status quo is usually the most comfortable position one can take,lets think outside the box.

Police (1) :Another call for state police

We always seem to go around in circles,when very simple solutions apply. I just read the maiden address by the new Inspector General of Police Mr. Ogbonna Onovo and I can't help but wonder.

These types of lofty speeches are never lacking anytime there's a change at the helm of the Nigeria Police force (NPF),but what is also constant is an increase in crime. So no matter what the 'new' IG says,everyone knows crime will not come down anytime soon. The reason for this isn't because the IG wishes it so,or because the men & officers of the NPF are inept(although most Nigerians may tend to think so),its simply a structural problem. Policing ,like all serious departments of government goes hand in hand with accountability,and the further away,this(accountability) is from the relevant communities they serve,the worse of for all concerned.

Its just like my previous post on the almighty federal government,we can't have effective policing until we have State police and if possible local government police. Changing the IG, 5 times in nine years or recruiting another 100,000 into the police will not solve the problem.

The state governors and local governments MUST have a say on how their areas of responsibilities are policed,lets stop theis TOP-DOWN way of doing things.

Opponenents of this idea have said things like 'The governors will use them for their political end '. . .this of course begs the response,how has the federal government being using the current NPF? Afterall the 2007 (s)elections are still fresh in our memories,and the recent Ekiti governorship saga is yet another example of abuse of police power.

I sometimes wonder why we have so many bills being discussed and passed at the National Assembly when obviously there's no viable organ of government to enforce implementation?

A state governor recently asked a pertinent question -'why would we have state courts with no state police'?

I would go a step further to ask for state prisons(story for another day).

So the solution:
1. Lets brainstorm on how to put in place a viable state police,largely immune from abuse,while retaining a Federal unit in the mould of the FBI,EFCC to investigate and prosecute inter state and federal crimes.
2.The state/local IG should be answerable to the governor/local government chairman ,but appointed/fired only by either the state/local legislature or universal suffrage.
3.Funding should come directly from the state.

The above while not complete in itself would certainly ensure career minded members of the publice could aspire to this great profession of keeping our people safe and ensure we don't keep going around in circles. . . .

The Loophole called federal Government

I remember a poem from secondary school titled -Who’ job is it? It goes something like this:
This is the story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry because it was Somebody's job.
Everybody thought Somebody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it
It ended that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done!
This poem graphically illustrates the dilemma called Nigerian government. Everybody in this instance could stand for the almighty Federal government, which ascribes to itself all the functions within the country; some have termed this a unitary style of government, whereby all the resources and responsibilities lie with the Federal government including, unbelievably - roads within a state !
The Federal government is responsible for Power generation and almost everything you can think of, that affects the everyday lives of ordinary Nigerians.
While this shouldn’t be a problem, if they were indeed doing the job, but what you have is that Nobody(or No one i.e. zero) does what should have being done by Mr Everybody(Federal),which promptly blames Mr Somebody (state).
And who suffers. . . . . . . .the masses. . .

Solution. . . .less and less Federal government,more and more state and local government. This might sound too simplistic,but it is realistic.

Power (1)

Everone knows our main problem has to do with power generation. . . our generation per capita is probably one of the lowest in the world.
I remember reading somewhere that South Africa with a population of about a third of Nigeria’s generates (or has plans to generate) least 10 times our current optimum capacity ! This shows we have a long way to go.. . . . . . .
The all too common stories of power generation dropping during the dry (harmattan) season due to low water levels at the hydroelectric dams or drop in gas supply to the gas operated power generation plants. Add to this the inefficient legal and regulatory framework.
This lawsuit between Lagos State government and PHCN is quite interesting
I know ultimately everything largely depends on having the proper regulatory laws, we must still begin to look at alternatives to gas and hydro, especially in a country with such abundance of sunshine.
So, solution. . . .alternative sources of energy, I was happy to read somewhere that the Lagos government is seriously thinking of this :
But the question arises, what are the other states doing?

Politics,Police and Power(Electricity)

These are the 3 'P's (problems) of Nigeria ; I make bold to say if these 3 can be resolved ,we are almost definitely home and dry.
You are welcome to contribute. . . .

Ideas for Nigeria

I have been reading and hearing about blogging for a while now,but never really put much thought into it.

Now I think the time's about right to contribute to our national discourse.

The main thrust will be politics with emphasis on Nigeria,but with very little space for the blame game & more solution oriented.

Welcome to my Blog. . . . . . .