Where do we consider the bounds of the Nigerian tech ecosystem. I simply don’t see how it’s possible to build wealth with an infrastructure deficit. By infrastructure deficit I include our open drainage roads, sporadic power supply, non existent pipe water infrastructure, building houses with expensive cement as opposed to cheaper synthetic wood derivatives.
I understand that technology has always seemed super accessible to people, hey all you need is a laptop and basic knowledge and you’re set. Why can’t this same spirit and drive in the software industry translate to a similar drive in hard/physical engineering. The great thing about traditional engineering disciplines is that so many solutions have already been developed, so many patents exist, and we have sooo many problems that can easily be solved with innovation in infrastructure.
In 19 years of life, I’ve been told that the power situation will “get better” with billions of naira flushed down the drain every political cycle. From Obasanjo to Buhari. Don’t we have electrical and mechanical engineers that can develop sustainable solutions to the power grid. Even just in Lagos state, there are probably countless ways to fund a cheap grid, it’s all about the planning.
Why do we underestimate our ability to solve our infrastructure problems and develop unique solutions to our problems?
The issue for most is that unlike software, infrastructure needs the following
Huge initial capital. This already limits the people able to do anything. Also, experimentation is a lot harder. You can’t just start something and leave it if it’s not going as planned
More regulations. Also the laws in Nigeria are not exactly helpful, and the Senate seems determined to make more unhelpful laws.
A lot of undergraduates have proposed solutions in their final year projects. Many have sustainable solutions. The problem is capital and policies. When the laws of the land won’t let you carry out a project or goal to improve quality of life, then you have what we are experiencing at the moment.
If I remember correctly, no power project is allowed to be stand alone, it needs to be fed to the national grid before distribution. Bear in mind our distribution max capacity stands at 6,000MW.
If the right policies are put in place, then it would be easier for infrastructures to be put in place.
I understand this barrier. But now that power generation/transmission is privatized. Isn’t there an economic incentive to provide more power and not less. [quote=“StephenAfamO, post:3, topic:9678”]
More regulations.
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Does the Nigerian government really have a strong track record of enforcing any law? I mean, I’m not advocating for laws to be broken, but it is what it is. Also, marketing and PR plays a large role in what the government is willing to do.
I heard about this law as well, but I feel it can easily be struck down in court. Lagos state is currently planning on cutting itself off from the National grid.
Yes we do, but these solutions are currently being done on a much smaller scale, so the impact is small. I am involved in CNG, which is a much more cost effective way of generating power for homes, cars, industries etc. I believe reasonable progress is being done with solar, but Nigeria has got a long way to go. People are trying, but it will take 10,000+ of us so make an impact.
Yes, but these costs can be cut down significantly when you think modular and small. Ex. modular homes, modular refineries etc.
Possibly, but that also means a lot of govt. lobbying. Which means even more money to be spent. Note that as with everything, there is no guarantee of success so forking out tens of millions of Naira isn’t really attractive.
They don’t enforce the useful laws. Ask any body that runs a business the amount of useless taxes and levies they have to pay.
Sometimes, it is as though they are determined to put people out of business.
Very few businesses have mastered the art of dining with the govt. Many will have to learn it too if they are to survive.
True. But modular also means costlier.
Things, usually get chaper with scale. Whether you are bulk importing solar panels, or using natural gas, or fuel cells, e.t.c.
I wrote an article recently about why if we are going to transition to solar energy, it will be by utilizing solar fuels and selling to people on demand.
It’s kind of sad yeah. I guess it’s a consequence of far too much of the nation’s wealth being concentrated in Lagos. So the majority of people that can afford to pay bills for 24/7 power likely live in Lagos. It kind of lines up with my theory that 170 million Nigerians cannot afford 24/7 power 365 days a year. Lagos and Abuja, probably can.
Which brings back @StephenAfamO point about how expensive it is to lobby decisions like this. Lagos can pull it off cuz it’s Lagos. Other states, not so much though I am aware that Cross River has the same plan to.IMO if every state as IPP that can generate enough to sustain the state, then let them do it.
It’s is a good alternative to the traditional fuels we use to generate power. However, it’s easier said than done. For this to be at a large scale, there must be a lot of players involved.
CNG can be used to power homes. In fact, an estate in Lagos will be switching to this to save cost. It’s is about 40-50% more cost efficient than diesel. That’s a major reason why a lot of Dangote’s trucks are now powered by CNG.
I think it will be a very good move. If the Centre (Federal Govt) can’t come up with a solution then the federating units should be allowed to find solutions. The major problem we have with national development is the lack of will-power by the federal govt. We are been dragged down by the weight of the federal govt. I am a firm believer in liberalisation of economic/infrastructural policies. Allow states to develop at their own pace.
Dubai is not the richest of the 6 emirates in UAE (in terms of natural resources) - yet the most developed. Why? the very essence of true federalism.
Households can generate electricity in the UK (often from Solar). If you can generate enough for your household usage, you don’t pay electricity bills and you get paid by adding the excess to the national grid.
About 10-15 years ago, the federal govt shut down the plan by Lagos state for an IPP (independent power plant - i think). This was going to be mostly financed by the private sector (if i can recollect correctly). Do you know how much electricity would have been generated since that time?
Let states do their thing, at least. Let them partner with the private sector to generate electricity, and for other infrastructural projects - transportation system can never be fully sorted out by the govt alone. Look at Telecommunications to see the power of the private sector.
Capital is not Nigeria’s problem. Basic planning and organization is. Take a look at most Nigerian cities. Forget electricity, forget even paved roads. The one basic thing something called a public water supply is nowhere to be seen. I mean this is ancient technology. Its the cheapest infrastructure you can build on scale but not a single federal or state government can organize themselves to supply urban homes with water. These are people that attend loads of meetings, conferences knowing that water affects health primarily. Yet they can’t mentally organize themselves.
The same problem you have with water, you have with public transport, with paved roads, with urban planning, with electricity. In my opinion there is a social apathy of Nigerians in public office, an inability to conceptualize, deliver and manage public works at scale. Instead the mantra is privatize, privatize, privatize even if it means delivering basic goods at double the price.
Going back to water just consider the costs of the alternative. You drill your own borehole, put a pump in it. That alone will cost you around 300,000 naira. A city like Lagos probably has around 500,000 boreholes. Now calculate the capital cost.150 billion naira. Are you going to tell me that if the Lagos State government put that capital to work they couldn’t supply half of Lagos with water? And Lagos ironically has supposedly one of the better “governments” in Nigeria.
This point is so true. You could apply the same analysis to the cost of running private generators just in Lagos State. The air pollution, cost of fuel and generator costs probably exceed the amount of money that could be put into public power supply.
3 Domain expertise/knowledge. These are not areas where someone with a laptop, and 3 months experience of programming can wing it.
This is not entirely accurate. It’s more like no power project above 1MW, if I recall correctly.
Right policies must go hand in hand with the right environment. Awon unofficial tax collectors paying you a visit to demand settlement will not help, even with heaps of right policies.
If these are the major obstacles, can we say for certain that we are moving fast enough towards better investment in ideas and enforcement of laws that makes innovation thrive? If that’s not the case, are there steps I or anyone can take to move things in the right direction or are we just doomed to hope and pray that someday we will engineer unique solutions to infrastructural problems. Someone has to start somewhere right?