ACCESS to uninterrupted power supply in federal
universities and university teaching hospitals in
Nigeria is a major challenge and barrier to
effective research, student learning and
institutional operations.
On June 15, this year, at a meeting in Abuja, the
hope of Nigerian universities was raised when
the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) unveiled
the first phase of its Energizing Education
Programme (EPP). The programme is aimed at
installing and supplying electricity to 37 federal
universities and seven university teaching
hospitals, across the six geo-political zones of
the country.
In the first phase, nine federal universities and
one teaching hospital were selected. The
institutions included in this first phase are,
University of Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe University,
Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo; Federal
University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun;
Usmanu Danfodiyo University; Bayero University
Kano; Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi;
Obafemi Awolowo University, Obafemi Awolowo
University Teaching Hospital Complex; and
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University.
Adequate supply of electric power
Under this programme, the REA will provide off-
grid captive solar or gas-fired power plants and
distribution networks infrastructure for the
generation and adequate supply of electric
power to the institutions. It will also install
street lighting to illuminate some roads within
the main campuses towards enhancing safety
and ensuring security. Additionally, it will
develop and operate centres that will provide
power-related training to students of these
institutions. The project is also anticipated to
result in the distribution of power to surrounding
communities in the second tier of each phase
with increased economic activity and improved
health and general wellbeing within those
communities.
The positive relationship between electricity
(energy) consumption and economic growth has
long been established for different countries,
using contemporary econometric methodologies.
However, a much more significant and direct
connection exist between research output and
the availability and regularity of the supply of
electricity. Constant supply of electricity is of
strategic importance in the conduct of research.
In Nigeria, it has been extremely difficult to meet
international research standards due to epileptic
power supply in our tertiary institutions, which
is a reflection of the generally poor supply of
electricity in the country.
Universities and other research institutions,
however, deserve special attention as no nation
can make progress without adequate input from
these institutions. When available, the electricity
supplies often constitute a menace to the highly
sensitive teaching and research equipment
manufactured in compliance with the current
electronic age. Multi-million naira equipment
bought locally or donated by foreign
collaborators are damaged on daily basis due to
irregular electricity and fluctuations in voltage.
As an example, there are two NMR machines
available in Nigeria; with one of these at the
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. These
machines must be switched on 24-hours a day
to maintain the magnetic field and prevent
damage, an impossible task with the present
condition of electricity supply in Nigeria. OAU
has tried unsuccessfully to maintain this feat
over the years and the N460 million machine
which had been repaired twice, has again
become non-functional.
In the area of biotechnology, there are usually
research materials that require continuous
storage under freezing temperatures and in
specialized freezers. High level cancer
researches particularly at the molecular level
often utilize these methods, and most cancer
research works are therefore impossible where
electricity is not constant.
Cutting-edge research are currently impossible
in most of our universities, not because of
inadequate personnel or knowledge but, due to
the irregularity of power supply. If Nigeria must
take its rightful place in the comity of
universities, the issue of electricity must be
considered foremost among those to be given
immediate attention and generous financial
support.
It is sad to note that though universities and
other research institutions pay several millions
monthly, with some universities paying as high
as N60 million every month, this essential
commodity has continued to be irregular and
erratic. The result is that our universities are
now flooded with thousands of ineffective diesel
generators with fluctuating voltage and the
attendant pollution and damaging effects.
President Muhammadu Buhari while speaking at
the Planet One Summit in Paris recently,
expressed Nigeria’s readiness to pursue the
achievement of Article 2 of the Paris Agreement.
The main purposes of this instrument are; to
make global warming mitigation effective, make
adaptation possible; and make finance available
to fund low carbon development and build
resilience to climate impacts. The EEP will
reduce air and noise pollution from diesel
generators and other alternative power supplies,
and encourage the development of renewable
energy in fulfillment of the Paris Agreement.
The EPP stands out as one of the best projects
ever envisaged as a way of salvaging the
Nigerian tertiary educational system. It will
tremendously assist in improving the global
ranking and status of Nigerian universities and
teaching hospital
