On-the-bill-to-ban-the-importation-of-generators-into-nigeria-nigerian-senators-have-lost-their-minds
September 7, 2020 | News
ON THE BILL TO BAN THE IMPORTATION OF GENERATORS INTO NIGERIA – NIGERIAN SENATORS HAVE LOST THEIR MINDS
Sometime late 2019, it was reported that the Nigerian Senate has opposed the idea of banning the importation of power-generating sets to address the challenges in the country’s power sector, at that time, some of the questions we could not help but ask were, what informed the decision to ban the importation of generators in the first place? Especially when we consider the fact that the Nigerian entire economy is “generator-dependent.” Whose idea was it to ban the importation of generators into Nigeria, when the country’s power supply sector is nothing to write home about? How can anyone that calls his/herself a lawmaker, even think of this move as the solution to addressing the nation’s power supply issues?
While we were still pondering on these questions, and the fact that the Senate had initially opposed to the said bill to ban the importation of generators, we are therefore shocked and left speechless, when it was reported recently that a bill seeking to ban the importation of generating set has passed first reading in the Nigerian Senate.
To crown it all up, the said bill seeks to criminalize the importation, selling and usage of generators in the country, and it prescribes a 10-year jail term for importers and sellers of generator. The proposed legislation titled “Generating Set (Prohibition/Ban) Bill 2020 is said to be sponsored by Senator Muhammad Bima from Niger state. The sponsor said the essence of the proposed legislation was to curb the menace of environmental pollution and to facilitate the development of the power sector. But the question is, are they just waking up to the environmental pollution caused by the use of generators? What about cars and other machineries that produce carbon monoxide which pollutes the air that we breath and the ozone layer? Will they ban the use of cars too? If the Government and the lawmakers had fixed the Nigerian power sector to guarantee Nigerians steady supply of electricity, would the people be using generators in the first place across the country? These lawmakers, surely do not know what they are doing there as legislators. You don’t just come up with any type of bills for the sake of it!
Worthy to mention is the fact that when this bill first came into public knowledge around November 2019, it was reported that it was Chukwuka Utazi, Senator Representing Enugu North, that moved a motion for an urgent solution to the perennial problems in the power sector, when he asked the Senate to probe power firms in the country. But it was Francis Fadahunsi, Senator representing Osun East, that suggested a five-year temporary ban on the importation of generators into the country in order to address the electricity challenges. We were even glad that when Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, called for a voice vote, the lawmakers overwhelmingly voted against Fadahunsi’s prayer last year. So, what exactly changed to have made the Senators, who initially opposed the idea when such a bill was first presented, to now decide to go on ahead to effect such unpopular and very unreasonable bill? What made them to change their minds? Or is it that this outrageous bill is a way the Senators are trying to tell the Nigerian public that they are still alive, active and have powers? Because we simply cannot understand what they are thinking.
While the exact content of the said bill is unknown yet, that is, if the said proposed ban on generators is a temporary one as first suggested by a Senator, or a permanent ban, but the big question is, how on earth will this address the electricity problem in the country. How can banning the only thing that helps Nigerians and businesses to survive in the country, be the solution to addressing the power problems in the country? The Nigerian Senators in support of this move, obviously not aware of the deplorable power supply situation in the country to have made this obnoxious and anti-Nigerian-people bill, which have passed First Reading already at the floor of the Senate. Are these Senators not aware of the fact that their stated move would end up inflicting more pains and sufferings to, not only their own people that elected them to represent their interest at the Senate, but also to all Nigerians. More so, such a bill will end up crippling the Nigerian Economy that is ‘Generator-driven.’ In fact, it will lead to the massive exodus of investors out of the country to neighboring African countries.
This habit and practice by the Nigerian Executive and Legislative Arms across the country, to always “put the cart before the horse” when addressing pressing problems in the country, is simply madness. This is typical of a ‘military-styled-approach’ in addressing a problem, which Nigerians had enough taste of during the military era. It is that same manner of doing things that our Nigerian civilian government are using to address societal problems. This ‘fire-brigade’ approach of doing things by the Government and Nigerian Lawmakers, has never helped us as a nation. There are countless instances across the country to justify this fact. FOR ANY REASONABLE, SENSIBLE AND PEOPLE-ORIENTED LAWMAKER(S), ONE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THAT THEY FIRST, USE EVERYTHING WITHIN THEIR LEGISLATIVE POWERS AND OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS, TO ENSURE THAT NIGERIAN POWER SUPPLY PROBLEMS ARE FIXED, AND THE NIGERIAN MASSES ARE GUARANTEED OF STEADY AND RELIABLE POWER SUPPLY; BEFORE THEY THEN GO AHEAD TO BAN THE IMPORTATION OF GENERATORS INTO THE COUNTRY. That is what is expected of the Nigerian Senate, in tackling the nation’s power supply problems. It is only when the power supply problems in Nigeria have been addressed holistically and sustainable, that Nigerians will support the said ban on imported generators. But as it is now, we are certain the Nigerian masses will greatly protest this move by the Senate.
Apart from the fact that Nigeria urgently needs to resolve its power problem by developing and Generating enough power that can satisfy the Nigerian population, and develop its Transmission infrastructure, as it currently lacks the capacity to withstand an increase in power Generation; there is also the problem with the Power Distribution Companies (DISCOS) whose ineptitude in power distribution is even more disturbing and alarming.
If the Federal Government and the National Assembly should ban the importation of generators into the country, as proposed by the said Senators, then what will generate power for the Nigerian public? Are the said Senators thinking that since the Federal Government had some months ago, banned the importation of certain goods and food items via the land borders into the country, to help Nigerian farmers develop the agricultural sector, that a similar ban on the import of generators would automatically translate to addressing the problems of electricity in the country? What sort of thinking is that? Are they aware that even DISCOS like the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Office in Warri Business District, Delta State, daily relies on generators to power their administrative office block along Warri/Sapele road near the VIO office in Warri? This situation is also the case we believe, in all the other DISCOS across the country. The same generator-dependent situation is applicable to all the businesses you can think of in Nigeria, including Government Establishments/Agencies/Departments across all levels of Government. From Commercial Banks, Corporate Bodies, Factories/Manufacturing Companies, Service providing businesses, down to the Barber/Saloon on most Streets, Small & Medium Scale businesses, you name it! Even the National Assembly Complex is sustained and run with massive sound-proof generating sets.
In other words, in Nigeria, almost everyone depends on generators, including President Muhammadu Buhari and all occupants of Aso Rock Villa. It is reported that the President’s office spent 46 million Naira fueling generators this year alone. In the country’s 2019 budget, there are 1,358 generator-related expenses. The shortage of power is one of the biggest issues in Nigeria for an economy that is dependent on oil exports. Nigeria, a country of about two hundred million people, generates a measly 3000 MW despite enormous resources that have been committed to the power sector. So, what exactly are these Senators talking about, or trying to do? Who are they fooling?
If there is anything that this administration urgently needs to holistically address, is the issue of electricity supply in the country. If this is the only thing that the National Assembly and the Federal Government can address once and for all, history and posterity will eternally have their names printed in gold in the hearts of Nigerians. On a more serious note, this Government and members of the National Assembly should be more committed to addressing the Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution needs in the country, and not this obnoxious bill to ban the importation of generators. We believe Four years should be enough to address this power sector problem in the country, or at least address it to a very considerable extent.
Again, that idea of banning generators is like putting the horse before the cart. It is expected that they first address the issue of power, and ensure that Nigerians have access to affordable power supply, before thinking of banning the importation of generators. Are they expecting Nigerians to rely on kerosene lamp or candle light sticks, if they go ahead with the said ban? In fact, the lawmakers in the Senate who have engineered the passage of this bill through first reading, should be recalled by their Constituencies with immediate effect. There is no alternative to generators at the moment. So, why ban its importation? Are they planning to increase the sufferings of Nigerians? Besides, no Nigerian is happy to buy generators because it has become an ‘evil necessity’ instead of being a ‘backup power source’, as intended and used in foreign developed countries.
The power supply problem in Nigeria has increased and has gone from bad to worse since this present administration took over. Nigeria has never had it so bad in terms of electricity supply. This should be a serious shame on Nigerian Senators. They are obviously not representing any Constituency’ interests with such a bill coming from the Senate. No Nigerian will bother about buying a generator if power supply was regular and reliable.
We therefore urge and demand that the said proposed legislation titled “Generating Set (Prohibition/Ban) Bill 2020, should not be allowed to see the light of the day during its Second Reading. But rather thrown away, and only to be revisited when, and only when the power supply problem has been addressed by the Government and the National Assembly.
Zik Gbemre.
March 12, 2020.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
Sometime late 2019, it was reported that the Nigerian Senate has opposed the idea of banning the importation of power-generating sets to address the challenges in the country’s power sector, at that time, some of the questions we could not help but ask were, what informed the decision to ban the importation of generators in the first place? Especially when we consider the fact that the Nigerian entire economy is “generator-dependent.” Whose idea was it to ban the importation of generators into Nigeria, when the country’s power supply sector is nothing to write home about? How can anyone that calls his/herself a lawmaker, even think of this move as the solution to addressing the nation’s power supply issues?
While we were still pondering on these questions, and the fact that the Senate had initially opposed to the said bill to ban the importation of generators, we are therefore shocked and left speechless, when it was reported recently that a bill seeking to ban the importation of generating set has passed first reading in the Nigerian Senate.
To crown it all up, the said bill seeks to criminalize the importation, selling and usage of generators in the country, and it prescribes a 10-year jail term for importers and sellers of generator. The proposed legislation titled “Generating Set (Prohibition/Ban) Bill 2020 is said to be sponsored by Senator Muhammad Bima from Niger state. The sponsor said the essence of the proposed legislation was to curb the menace of environmental pollution and to facilitate the development of the power sector. But the question is, are they just waking up to the environmental pollution caused by the use of generators? What about cars and other machineries that produce carbon monoxide which pollutes the air that we breath and the ozone layer? Will they ban the use of cars too? If the Government and the lawmakers had fixed the Nigerian power sector to guarantee Nigerians steady supply of electricity, would the people be using generators in the first place across the country? These lawmakers, surely do not know what they are doing there as legislators. You don’t just come up with any type of bills for the sake of it!
Worthy to mention is the fact that when this bill first came into public knowledge around November 2019, it was reported that it was Chukwuka Utazi, Senator Representing Enugu North, that moved a motion for an urgent solution to the perennial problems in the power sector, when he asked the Senate to probe power firms in the country. But it was Francis Fadahunsi, Senator representing Osun East, that suggested a five-year temporary ban on the importation of generators into the country in order to address the electricity challenges. We were even glad that when Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, called for a voice vote, the lawmakers overwhelmingly voted against Fadahunsi’s prayer last year. So, what exactly changed to have made the Senators, who initially opposed the idea when such a bill was first presented, to now decide to go on ahead to effect such unpopular and very unreasonable bill? What made them to change their minds? Or is it that this outrageous bill is a way the Senators are trying to tell the Nigerian public that they are still alive, active and have powers? Because we simply cannot understand what they are thinking.
While the exact content of the said bill is unknown yet, that is, if the said proposed ban on generators is a temporary one as first suggested by a Senator, or a permanent ban, but the big question is, how on earth will this address the electricity problem in the country. How can banning the only thing that helps Nigerians and businesses to survive in the country, be the solution to addressing the power problems in the country? The Nigerian Senators in support of this move, obviously not aware of the deplorable power supply situation in the country to have made this obnoxious and anti-Nigerian-people bill, which have passed First Reading already at the floor of the Senate. Are these Senators not aware of the fact that their stated move would end up inflicting more pains and sufferings to, not only their own people that elected them to represent their interest at the Senate, but also to all Nigerians. More so, such a bill will end up crippling the Nigerian Economy that is ‘Generator-driven.’ In fact, it will lead to the massive exodus of investors out of the country to neighboring African countries.
This habit and practice by the Nigerian Executive and Legislative Arms across the country, to always “put the cart before the horse” when addressing pressing problems in the country, is simply madness. This is typical of a ‘military-styled-approach’ in addressing a problem, which Nigerians had enough taste of during the military era. It is that same manner of doing things that our Nigerian civilian government are using to address societal problems. This ‘fire-brigade’ approach of doing things by the Government and Nigerian Lawmakers, has never helped us as a nation. There are countless instances across the country to justify this fact. FOR ANY REASONABLE, SENSIBLE AND PEOPLE-ORIENTED LAWMAKER(S), ONE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THAT THEY FIRST, USE EVERYTHING WITHIN THEIR LEGISLATIVE POWERS AND OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS, TO ENSURE THAT NIGERIAN POWER SUPPLY PROBLEMS ARE FIXED, AND THE NIGERIAN MASSES ARE GUARANTEED OF STEADY AND RELIABLE POWER SUPPLY; BEFORE THEY THEN GO AHEAD TO BAN THE IMPORTATION OF GENERATORS INTO THE COUNTRY. That is what is expected of the Nigerian Senate, in tackling the nation’s power supply problems. It is only when the power supply problems in Nigeria have been addressed holistically and sustainable, that Nigerians will support the said ban on imported generators. But as it is now, we are certain the Nigerian masses will greatly protest this move by the Senate.
Apart from the fact that Nigeria urgently needs to resolve its power problem by developing and Generating enough power that can satisfy the Nigerian population, and develop its Transmission infrastructure, as it currently lacks the capacity to withstand an increase in power Generation; there is also the problem with the Power Distribution Companies (DISCOS) whose ineptitude in power distribution is even more disturbing and alarming.
If the Federal Government and the National Assembly should ban the importation of generators into the country, as proposed by the said Senators, then what will generate power for the Nigerian public? Are the said Senators thinking that since the Federal Government had some months ago, banned the importation of certain goods and food items via the land borders into the country, to help Nigerian farmers develop the agricultural sector, that a similar ban on the import of generators would automatically translate to addressing the problems of electricity in the country? What sort of thinking is that? Are they aware that even DISCOS like the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Office in Warri Business District, Delta State, daily relies on generators to power their administrative office block along Warri/Sapele road near the VIO office in Warri? This situation is also the case we believe, in all the other DISCOS across the country. The same generator-dependent situation is applicable to all the businesses you can think of in Nigeria, including Government Establishments/Agencies/Departments across all levels of Government. From Commercial Banks, Corporate Bodies, Factories/Manufacturing Companies, Service providing businesses, down to the Barber/Saloon on most Streets, Small & Medium Scale businesses, you name it! Even the National Assembly Complex is sustained and run with massive sound-proof generating sets.
In other words, in Nigeria, almost everyone depends on generators, including President Muhammadu Buhari and all occupants of Aso Rock Villa. It is reported that the President’s office spent 46 million Naira fueling generators this year alone. In the country’s 2019 budget, there are 1,358 generator-related expenses. The shortage of power is one of the biggest issues in Nigeria for an economy that is dependent on oil exports. Nigeria, a country of about two hundred million people, generates a measly 3000 MW despite enormous resources that have been committed to the power sector. So, what exactly are these Senators talking about, or trying to do? Who are they fooling?
If there is anything that this administration urgently needs to holistically address, is the issue of electricity supply in the country. If this is the only thing that the National Assembly and the Federal Government can address once and for all, history and posterity will eternally have their names printed in gold in the hearts of Nigerians. On a more serious note, this Government and members of the National Assembly should be more committed to addressing the Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution needs in the country, and not this obnoxious bill to ban the importation of generators. We believe Four years should be enough to address this power sector problem in the country, or at least address it to a very considerable extent.
Again, that idea of banning generators is like putting the horse before the cart. It is expected that they first address the issue of power, and ensure that Nigerians have access to affordable power supply, before thinking of banning the importation of generators. Are they expecting Nigerians to rely on kerosene lamp or candle light sticks, if they go ahead with the said ban? In fact, the lawmakers in the Senate who have engineered the passage of this bill through first reading, should be recalled by their Constituencies with immediate effect. There is no alternative to generators at the moment. So, why ban its importation? Are they planning to increase the sufferings of Nigerians? Besides, no Nigerian is happy to buy generators because it has become an ‘evil necessity’ instead of being a ‘backup power source’, as intended and used in foreign developed countries.
The power supply problem in Nigeria has increased and has gone from bad to worse since this present administration took over. Nigeria has never had it so bad in terms of electricity supply. This should be a serious shame on Nigerian Senators. They are obviously not representing any Constituency’ interests with such a bill coming from the Senate. No Nigerian will bother about buying a generator if power supply was regular and reliable.
We therefore urge and demand that the said proposed legislation titled “Generating Set (Prohibition/Ban) Bill 2020, should not be allowed to see the light of the day during its Second Reading. But rather thrown away, and only to be revisited when, and only when the power supply problem has been addressed by the Government and the National Assembly.
Zik Gbemre.
March 12, 2020.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes