Seeking light in darkness

By Gabriel Dike, Fred Ezeh, Abuja; Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri; Felix Ikem, Nsukka; Scholarlastic Hir, Makurdi and Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

Seeking light in darkness! This, perhaps, captures the erratic power supply plaguing public tertiary institutions nationwide.

Universities, polytechnics and colleges of education find their academic and research endeavours in jeopardy. The prospects for improvement appear bleak, as electricity providers (DisCos) entangle these institutions in a web of band classification rhetoric.

Investigations by Daily Sun uncovered that some institutions pay up to N350 million monthly and approximately N1.1 billion annually to various electricity distribution companies (DisCos), yet tangible results remain elusive. The situation reached a boiling point recently at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), where students, despite threats from campus authorities and security personnel, protested against the intolerable conditions exacerbated by frequent blackouts. This upheaval compelled the administration to close the university indefinitely.

Further inquiries revealed that both public and private institutions are expending significant funds on diesel at exorbitant prices. Some have resorted to rationing electricity on campus, while others have turned to solar power to sustain critical sections of the university.

Reports from various tertiary institutions across the country suggest that the epileptic power supply will persist unless the federal government intervenes to prevent campuses from plunging into darkness.

The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) confirmed experiencing inconsistent power supply, saying it poses significant challenges to its overall development. Unreliable electricity has adversely affected research, learning, business operations and the comfort of students and staff.

UniAbuja spends over N100 million monthly on electricity to power the institution, according to Dr. Habib Yakoob, the acting director of information and university relations. Despite this expenditure, the university has faced disruptions.

Yakoob mentioned that the university previously enjoyed stable power, benefiting from up to 20 hours of uninterrupted electricity daily. However, this stability was disrupted when vandals cut the cables to the university’s dedicated power line.

In response, the university has initiated several projects to mitigate the challenges. A three-megawatt solar power project is nearing completion on campus, and the Energy Research Centre is exploring additional alternative energy solutions, focusing on faculties and buildings.

At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), the institution enjoys regular power supply, but this comes with an enormous financial burden. In a recent valedictory speech, the former vice-chancellor, Prof. Charles Igwe, lamented the exorbitant monthly electricity bills, which exceeded N80 million.

He highlighted that the institution also spent significant sums of money on diesel to power generators, marking the high cost of electricity as a major challenge for university administrators nationwide.

During a visit to the university, it was discovered that the current monthly electricity bill has soared to over N170 million. This covers the consumption from the Nsukka main campus (UNN), the Enugu campus (UNEC), and the Ituku Ozalla Teaching Hospital. A principal officer of the university, who requested anonymity, revealed that the institution frequently receives disconnection notices from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). This has severely impacted the electricity supply across the campuses.

“Where do you expect the university management to get money to pay over N170 million monthly for electricity, alongside providing funds for diesel for the university generators, when the monthly overhead is less than N15 million?” the official asked.

“It is a terrible situation and the management has been struggling to manage and service the electricity bill as best they can. To ensure that students and staff have access to power, some deans and heads of departments have installed solar energy systems to supplement the conventional electricity supply.”

Prof. Christian Ezeibe, associate dean of Students Affairs at UNN, described the situation as pathetic and worrisome. He emphasized that the unreliable power supply has severely impacted academic research, teaching and learning.

He said: “Several times, the EEDC has disconnected the university’s electricity due to unpaid bills. During these periods, the university resorts to using diesel and petrol for generators, which are also very expensive. The financial strain makes it challenging to maintain consistent power supply, which is essential for academic activities.

“Imagine a lecturer trying to teach in a lab without electricity, or students attempting to preserve specimens in incubators or refrigerators without power. The lack of electricity hampers research work and outputs, making it distressing for an academic institution to endure such an erratic power supply.”

When asked if the university could generate its own electricity, Prof. Emenike Ejiogu, director of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED) and dean of the Faculty of Engineering, confirmed that it was possible: “We are developing home-grown, less import-dependent energy solutions for the university, such as gasification of waste to gas.”

Prof. Ejiogu elaborated on the projects at ACE-SPED, including solar power controllers, consumption monitoring, and energy management devices, all aimed at providing sustainable power solutions for the university.

He said: “We have developed a 500KVA gasification plant that converts refuse to fuel for generating electricity. However, we need financial support to mass-produce and implement these solutions.”

He further explained that various departments, faculties and centres within the university were actively pursuing alternative energy sources. The Faculty of Engineering is leading these efforts and aims to become independent of EEDC’s electricity supply.

“Currently, there is an ongoing 240kW solar energy project at the university, which, when completed, will provide uninterrupted power to all departments in the Faculty of Engineering. This project was initiated by an indigenous power company, Azura Power West Africa Limited, through its managing director, Mr. Edu Okeke, who is also an alumnus of the faculty,” Prof. Ejiogu concluded.

Nze Williams Nwodo, a 200-level student in the Mass Communication Department at UNN, shared how the erratic power supply has impacted students’ academic activities: “Sometimes, lecturers need a projector to deliver their lectures, but there won’t be electricity to power the gadgets. This situation has been regular in our institution.”

However, Nwodo noted an improvement in recent times, with the university enjoying about 10 to 15 consecutive hours of electricity daily.

“Ever since it was announced that UNN has been grouped under Band A of EEDC’s customer categories, we have witnessed steady power supply of up to 1zzzzzz0 to 15 hours a day. At times, we get three to five hours of electricity with intermittent interruptions. It’s unpredictable and unreliable because power can fail just when you need it the most,” he said.

Another student, Emmanuella Ani, a 500-level student in the Department of Medical Radiography, UNN, echoed similar frustrations.

“Lecturers often postpone classes due to the unavailability of electricity in classrooms and laboratories. This has happened many times. When we travel from the Enugu campus to UNTH, Ituku Ozalla, for practicals, if there is no electricity, we have to minimize our time in the lab because the facility runs on diesel,” she explained.

Ani also acknowledged the recent improvement in power supply, attributing it to the university’s inclusion in EEDC’s Band A category.

“Electricity supply on campus has increased significantly. We now experience over 15 hours of constant power supply daily,” she said.

The situation at Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU), mirrors that of UNN. The institution’s public relations officer, Ralph Njoku, highlighted the challenges posed by inconsistent power supply. Although he did not disclose the monthly electricity bill, he admitted it was exorbitant.

“It’s a national problem. We moderately receive power from EEDC, but it’s always come-and-go, like an epileptic condition,” he said.

Njoku noted that many departments and faculties rely on generators as an alternative power source, “In this country, what we call standby is actually the main power supply. You have to live with what you see, if you can’t change it.”

He described the university as a large place where many offices require air conditioning and laboratories need constant power, making the lack of steady electricity particularly inconvenient and challenging. “If classrooms could at least get fans, it would make learning more conducive,” he added.

Despite these challenges, Njoku revealed that IMSU does not have any plans to generate its own power supply.

A student of the school, who did not want his name mentioned, confirming Njoku’s claims, saying the situation has made almost all the students in the school buy a generator as an alternative to EEDC power supply.

“If you come to our lodge, it looks like an industry or a marketplace because of the noise from the generators, we can’t do without them, at least for those of us who can afford it, we use them to charge our phones and other appliances.

Federal and state universities in Benue have lamented the erratic power supply in the universities.

From the Benue State University, (BSU), Makurdi, to the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUSHO), and the University of Mkar, the same tale of woes remained over low power supply and high charges, following an increase in electricity tariff.

Commenting on the situation at BSU, Makurdi, Professor Joe Tor Iorapuu, the VC, expressed concerns over the poor power supply affecting the institution. He noted a significant increase in the university’s electricity bills, citing a rise from N7 million in March 2024 to N23 million in April, with this trend continuing.

Prof. Iorapuu described the impact of erratic power supply on students and lecturers as profound and disruptive, “It has destroyed research processes and specimens, delayed work for students and staff, and frustrated academic activities.”

Recognizing the capital-intensive nature of generating their own power, he emphasized the need for government support to explore this option.

At the University of Mkar, the VC, Zacharys Gundu, echoed similar challenges. Highlighting the severe power situation on campus, he said, “It’s dire. Despite increased tariffs, power supply hasn’t improved. If we don’t pay the bills promptly, they threaten to disconnect us.”

The monthly bill ranges from N1.2 million to N1.3 million, despite efforts to restrict electrical usage in hostels.

Gundu underscored how unreliable power affects students and lecturers, limiting their ability to work beyond daylight hours and hindering the use of essential equipment due to high diesel costs. He mentioned the university’s exploration of solar power as a potential solution, despite the substantial costs involved.

Similarly, at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, the VC, Professor Innocent Ujah, decried the universal challenges of erratic power supply.

“Since January, we’ve experienced four grid collapses, coupled with frequent rain disruptions,” he noted.

Ujah highlighted the university’s struggle with insufficient electricity, impacting lectures, research efforts and the preservation of scientific samples.

He expressed frustration over the financial strain caused by high electricity costs, which consume a significant portion of the university’s budget. Ujah emphasized the limitations faced by a young institution like FUHSO in generating its own electricity, particularly in an environment where essential amenities like water are scarce.

Ujah called on the federal government to complete a dam project in Otukpo, which could provide sustainable electricity and other benefits to the university and its surroundings.

At the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, now Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM), the situation has taken a positive turn. According to Mrs. Rosemary Waku, director of Information and Public Relations at JOSTUM, the days of erratic power supply on campus are now a thing of the past.

She explained that, for the past two years, the university has been self-sufficient in power generation, thanks to a solar project initiated by the federal government.

“We have been generating our own power for the last two years. I can’t specify the exact quantity, but we no longer rely on public power supply at all. The solar plant provides more than enough electricity for all our activities on campus,” Waku affirmed.

“Since the installation of the solar panels, we haven’t paid electricity bills in two years. There’s uninterrupted power supply 24 hours a day at JOSTUM.”

However, despite these advancements, some students expressed frustration at the situation. Tyorna Agena, a student, voiced concerns about the inconsistency of power during crucial times like exams: “The electricity comes and goes like lightning. It’s very frustrating because we can’t use it for studying or even charge our devices for night reading.”

Daniel Myon, who operates a business centre at the BSU Labour Market, echoed similar sentiments about unreliable power supply and high bills.

“The power supply isn’t as frequent as it should be and we often receive exorbitant bills. Recently, our market was disconnected for outstanding bills, and clearing them means facing double charges, which is discouraging,” Myon lamented.

The issue of electricity also poses significant challenges for public universities in Bayelsa State, such as the Niger Delta University (NDU) in Amassoma and the Federal University, Otuoke (FUO), in Ogbia. Both institutions grapple with unreliable power supply, forcing them to heavily rely on generators for electricity.

Lydia Odomena, a student at NDU, highlighted the financial burden this places on students who often need to purchase generators to cope with erratic power.

“The power situation at our school is bad because we can’t depend on PHEDC for electricity. Most of us off-campus students have to rely on generators, sometimes, sharing with others to reduce costs,” Odomena explained.

Ereme Otokiti, another student, emphasized how the lack of electricity drives up the costs of essential goods and services, making student life more challenging.

“Surviving here at NDU is tough. Everything from food to basic services like laundry and photocopying is expensive due to the high cost of fuel,” Otokiti said, underscoring the broader impact of unreliable power on daily life in the institutions.

While the Communications and Information Department of the university declined to comment on the power situation, investigations revealed that the school management has implemented measures to ensure continuous electricity supply for the benefit of staff and students.

It was found that the university operates its generator from 10am to 3pm, and again from 7pm to 12am. Beyond these hours, entities like the Island Radio Station, owned by the university, run their own generators to sustain operations. This arrangement extends to various faculties that require electricity outside the university’s stipulated hours.

A source from the accounts department disclosed that the university expends millions of naira monthly on diesel to power its generators. She noted that a significant portion of the monthly financial support received from the state government is allocated to diesel procurement.

Meanwhile, at the Federal University, Otuoke, located in the community of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the electricity situation is dire. Alicia Kemasede, a Sociology student, disclosed that since she began studying in Otuoke in 2022, public power usage has been non-existent: “People rely on generators. Living off-campus without university accommodation means most of us depend on personal generators. While the university supplies electricity, it’s rationed, necessitating personal power sources for adequate functioning.”

Tarliah Brown, a Management Sciences student, corroborated Kemasede’s observations, emphasizing that FUO’s management strives to mitigate the impact of erratic power supply through central generators. “We have scheduled power in our classrooms during morning and evening hours for those who study there,” she explained. “Students without personal generators or alternative power sources manage with rechargeable lamps.”

A spokesperson from the university’s public relations department revealed that the institution was pursuing an independent power supply initiative through the Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board’s Oil and Gas Park.

“The university’s current provision of electricity incurs substantial costs that could otherwise support other needs,” the spokesperson remarked. “Efforts to establish our own electricity generation are underway, pending realization of the Oil and Gas Park project.”

In summary, while universities like JOSTUM have successfully navigated to self-sufficiency in power generation, others continue to grapple with the economic and logistical challenges of maintaining reliable electricity supply amid broader infrastructure deficiencies.