Dr. Oluwafemi Joseph Aworo, a Nigerian power expert with the University of Pittsburgh, USA, in this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU, speaks on the challenges of the Nigerian power sector, even as he tries to proffer some solutions to the nation’s electricity challenges. Excerpt:
Could you briefly tell us about yourself, your early life and education?
I had my early education at Theoville Day School, Idi Araba, Lagos, and secondary education at Holy Saviour’s College, Isolo, Lagos. From my childhood, I have had a knack for mathematics and in order to reward my curiosity, I decided to apply to Electronic/Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, where I graduated with First Class Honors in 2011. In 2014, I was awarded a Presidential Scholarship under the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to study Masters and PhD in the top universities in the world. Then, I proceeded to study Masters in Sustainable Energy Systems at The University of Edinburgh from 2014 to 2015, and a conferred PhD in Electrical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, in 2019.
What are your antecedence, career and work experience?
In my career journey, I had the opportunity of working at two United States national laboratories, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), both under the US Department of Energy. In these laboratories, I had the opportunity to participate in renewable energy projects such as solar PV and energy storage. I have since then been working at an electric utility company in the United States.
You recently wrote a piece, ‘Shambolic State of Nigerian Electricity Sector: The Way Forward’. What moved you to do the piece?
I was motivated by the desire to see a positive change in the Nigerian electricity system. Electricity in itself is a force, without it no current flows. And there are anti-forces that have taken the front seat to keep the country in total darkness, these saboteurs are very seasoned in traditional warfare and until we deploy a novel strategy to solve our problem, then, there will not be any headway. This is why I am answering my call to join the forces of liberation electrical engineering armies that will bring about the positive change that is much needed in our electrical sector. I can be reached through josephfemi@rocketmail.com. Every one of my research and projects has always been tied to Nigeria since I started schooling outside the country. Customers exporting power to the grid can be likened to crowdfunding a project. With the inefficiency of our transmission network, it would be a gross misfit to invest in large-scale solar plants and then synchronise bulk power to the same grid. There are already limitations to these old conventional approaches, and it has not been working. The government should start thinking in a distributed sense. This is not about capital investment now, but about revolutionary policies that would ameliorate the failed power system. It was pointed out in my article that rooftop solar acting as an independent microgrid can be meshed together in a grid-connected mode to add reliability and capacity to the grid. This would introduce new dynamics into our power system, a two-way power flow, which when coordinated through adequate protection settings would allow for a safe and reliable power delivery. Load sheds, which are often due to reduced power generation and peak demands can be alleviated. Though the adoption of solar PV presents a high initial capital cost, the competitive levelised cost of energy (LCOE) makes it an attractive energy mix.
Do you really believe that the situation of Nigeria’s power sector is redeemable considering the depth of the problems in the sector?
Definitely. Darkness was a problem until God said, ‘Let there be light’. Until we move, nothing moves. Until we act, nothing changes. We really need to look inward and make use of what we have. When it comes to big national projects such as electricity, what we hear from the government is that we don’t have money. Well, you throw money at all problems without concrete ideas, then it becomes a waste. What we need are alternative solutions and effective policies. The government should also support DISCOs in the form of grants while the DISCOs also become accountable in the area of reliability metrics that would qualify them for such grants or limit the amount that they have access to. I will publish the details of this reliability metrics in a future article.
Considering the huge amount being pumped into the power sector without yielding the necessary fruit, the massive importation of generators providing alternative power by citizens, don’t you think that there are local and international cabals making this sector not to function properly? If so, how could these cabals be dislodged?
The electricity sector, just as the oil and mining sectors, is definitely within the whims and caprices of vampires that won’t let us go. There are two ways, you either confront your adversity or you re-strategise. We cannot continue to do business the same way for several decades and expect a different result. The current traditional method can be easily sabotaged. For the conspiracy to be destroyed, they must be exposed. The other way round is to adopt the strategy as published in my article you were referring to. The said cabals have no idea of newer disruptive technology and this will be a game over for them. There is no gainsaying that in every economy, there are powers within powers and states within states with personal selfish interest. When their train starts getting empty, the cabals will leave their old, but seasoned train and join the new moving train, which is in the interest of the nation. We do need the cabals as well, but in a new integrated dispensation where it serves the interest of everyone.
How do you see the hike in tariff for electricity by the DISCOs and failure of the Federal Government to ensure that Nigerians get electricity at cheaper rate?
The government is on a path of aggressive cost recovery, which is why they consistently hike electricity tariffs to at least meet up with the rising production cost. The sole reason is because they continue to invest in traditional assets, which continually become expensive due to widening foreign exchange rate, and as such, we relied on subsidies for the end consumers to be able to afford electricity. A form of vicious cycle has been created, as the cost of production increases, cost of electricity also increases, cost recovery gets lower and then, there is not much available to improve the existing infrastructure. As mentioned in my article you referred to, traditional solutions are no longer working. The cons include longer time to commissioning, complex engineering design, long procurement lead times and construction timeframe. In essence, hiking the rate in an effort to meet up with the cost of running business has led to increased energy poverty among the people. It is time to think outside the box and adopt a lasting solution such as the one proposed in my article. The massive roll-out of prepaid meters would already help with the cost recovery.
As a Nigerian in diaspora, how do you feel about the mass exodus of professionals in different areas from the country?
Brain drain kills the country. Such is inevitable given the current economic circumstance in the country. However, this can be turned around to the country’s advantage. We can begin to see blessings and opportunities in this movement. For example, a young professional who left the country 20 years ago would have become an expert in his or her chosen field by now. If the government has a re-integration ‘Welcome Home’ plan that utilises the experience of these experts, then it can become a blessing to the country. Nigerians abroad just want to be heard and given the opportunity to contribute their quota. For example, if the federal or each state government decides to announce a need for diaspora medical experts to be members of its health think-tank, I am very sure there are many with at least 20 years’ experience who would offer to do so. This can be terminal part-time, full-time remote or on-site positions for those that are interested, thanks to the internet world. Come to think of it, some people in this age range are already on their return plan to the father land. We can turn our export into import with time.
What is your take on the state of infrastructure in Nigeria and the way the federal, state and local governments are handling the issue?
There is no perfect system in the world. However, I believe that these three tiers of government can do better. Some states are performing better than the others, just as the local governments, resulting in a net neutral growth. That is why the last paragraph of my article you referred to earlier, proposed a state-focused regulatory scheme. The efficiency of the national executive offices can be further strengthened when we build strong institutions.
How do you see President Bola Tinubu’s administration so far?
The policies of the president would have long-term reaching effects, but, with debilitating short-term impact on Nigerians. Yes, the government should subsidise, but not in a way that kills the country. Let us see Nigeria as a personal business. I am sure no one wants to run a business at a perpetual loss, a situation where Nigeria borrows only to pay overheads, with little to no capital project and a humongous debt to service. Any disruptive long-term policy must have to be accompanied by short-term strategy to cushion the effect on the citizens. These are what we call transients in electrical systems. They happen for a very short time when causing a large change or disturbance, but could wreak long term havoc, if not properly managed.
