National Grid Collapse and Decentralise Electricity Supply

Epileptic power supply has continued to haunt businesses in Nigeria, and has heavily dwarfed development in the country especially inability to catch up with artificial intelligence trends to facilitate development across walks of life. Constant electricity supply form part of crucial development, it is essential part of human enterprise.  Director-general of World Trade Organisation (WTO) Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaking recently at African University of Science and Technology, (AUST) in Abuja, has acknowledged and advocated for decentralise electricity supply, as an alternative to epileptic power supply, businesses have continued to close down due to this, running businesses and cost of fuelling generator has proven to be unsustainable.

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaking on the need to actively queue into AI solutions which cannot be done without uninterrupted electricity supply, “Underpinning all that, of course, is access to reliable electricity power supply. Power outages and constant interruptions might prove a more challenging constraint in Nigeria and other African countries to internet access and AI adoption than anything else. Dr Okonjo-Iweala continued “In other words, we could lay out the smartest approaches to the adoption of AI, like the federal government and AUST are trying to do, but find that efforts undermine our lack of access to the very basics – electricity infrastructure.” Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has acknowledged that Nigeria and Africa at large will not make any headway without constant electricity supply in AI adoptions.

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Director-general of World Trade Organisation has proposed for decentralise electricity supply, “here, I would propose that we take a more decentralized approach to electricity provision in the country in light of the improved affordability of renewable energy. She further said, “Each production, consumption and learning unit that is able should try to create its electricity supply through renewables. I’m proud to learn that AUST is embarking on this path, with feasibility studies for hydro and solar sources that can carry the campus. The issue is to mobilize the N200 million needed to make this happen.” Nigerians are already starting embracing solar energy but the rate in which they are moving are at snails pace due to the funds to make it happen, and the need for wider awareness on decentralise electricity supply from both public and private sectors.

When AI began to take its course in a profound way, one of the major discussions around it, is its regulation in order to afford data security of users. European Union was the first continental body to regulate AI and Dr Okonjo-Iweala has suggested the same in Nigeria, “we also need to bear in mind that relying on AI-driven systems could pose challenges to data sovereignty and security. Many African economies currently depend on foreign technology providers for AI tools and platforms, potentially raising concerns about privacy, governance and the protection of sensitive information. She strengthens “putting in strong regulatory guardrails is crucial to ensuring that AI serves as a tool for inclusive and sustainable development, rather than a source of new vulnerabilities. So on the road ahead, let me try to bring my talk to a conclusion.’’

Minister of Power, Adeboye Adelabu said that Transmission Company of Nigeria will need about N2.8 trillion to carryout 149 projects to improve on electricity supply across Nigeria. ”For the TCN alone, we will need about N2.779 trillion to enable us to execute about 149 projects we are currently engaged in all over the country. Our total budget as a ministry is not even up to this but as the saying goes that half bread is better than none.”, the Minister said. Federal Government has acknowledged the massive setbacks occasioned by frequent national grid collapse, “the Federal Government is fully determined to address these challenges and issues that have been blocking our progress in our effort to provide electricity to Nigerians and our consumers. Of particular note is the grid collapse, which has to do with the obsolete and outdated equipment around our power stations.” He said.