An Assured Power Supply a Distant Dream in Nigeria

At the end of a year that was meant to solve Nigeria’s chronic electricity problems, an assured power supply is still a distant dream in this oil-rich nation.

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Blackouts are widespread across the country’s biggest city here, and the capital, Abuja. And consumers are plagued with inflated bills, which in local parlance are called “crazy bills”. In fact, according to most consumers, things have only got worse.

“In Iju-Ishaga (a Lagos suburb), where I live, in the last 12 weeks, electricity supply has been a rarity. Daily supply averages three to four hours at the most,” says Sanya Oni, a newspaper columnist. “The bills, however, keep coming,” Oni adds. “These have spiraled, despite the many hours of darkness.”

The story is the same everywhere. Those who can afford to rely on generator sets to keep businesses and establishments running in the West African country.

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