The Change I Voted For And Expected 

I went on to state how the real change would be difficult and painful to swallow, considering the level of rot and how many Nigerians will rebel and reject it because of the pains but that those pains will be the bitter pills that will cure our debilitating illnesses.

This is something we have witnessed in the last 7 years. Wailing and lamentations so much so that some Nigerians started shouting ‘bring back our corruption’. Even some Buhari supporters succumbed and joined the perpetual naysayers and disbelievers to say ‘Buhari has failed’, ‘this administration is worse than the preceding administration’ etc. All because they did not have the foresight and staying power to realize and wait; for after the pains come to the gains.

That is part of the reason some of them hastily and prematurely started calling for and singing a new song; either artikulately or obidiently; because of impatience and ignorance (for some). Little did they know or realize that the results and gains of their support were right down the alley; even though it is not yet Uhuru by any stretch of the imagination.

Today, we are witnessing the realities of and reactions to CHANGE playing out right in front of our eyes in different and curious ways.

Two Examples To Highlight …

As key Infrastructural Projects that the Buhari administration has been silently but resolutely working on across the nation for the last 7 years get delivered, we see varied reactions. While many Nigerians are very excited, happy, and appreciative, some are surprised, sad, angry, in denial, unbelieving, etc for varied reasons; including as a result of years nay decades of failed promises by successive administrations (sometimes you do not blame them).

Many Nigerians simply have come to believe and accept that Nigeria simply can/will not work and that everything a government says lies. So much so that they could be standing atop the newly built 2nd Niger Bridge and still say it is a lie or be enjoying 20 hours of electricity a day (as many are today) and still believe it is not happening or seek to advance a reason(s) why it is so just to convince themselves that it is not true or for real. For example; the verifiably improved power supply currently is because of the rainy season; as if we did not use to have rainy seasons in Nigeria in the past.

There have been reports of Fuel Marketers and filling station owners complaining of low sales because the number of customers buying petrol and diesel to power their generators for home and businesses has dropped significantly directly because of improved power supply.

Even fuel station attendants are angry because the extra money they extort from fellow Nigerians who come to buy petrol in kegs has dropped significantly. The same goes for ice block makers, phone chargers, generator sellers and repairers, etc.

Such is how Nigerians had adapted to exploiting the pains of fellow Nigerians because of a system that failed to work for decades. Surely such Nigerians will not be happy with Buhari and his Administration because in their view he is ‘spoiling their business. Yet they have to accept and adjust because that is the change we desired and voted for.

I only pray that it is sustained but I am sure it would because when something is built on a solid and enduring foundation, it is better able to endure; even though there will be challenges including sabotage.

By The Way …

The Improved Power Supply Is Neither A Fluke Nor Solely Because Of The Rainy Season …

Even before the PPI/SIEMENS Nigeria Power Project aimed at taking our power capacity to 25,000Mw hits the ground, Hallmark News reports that BH findings show that power supply had been on an upward trend since the beginning of August, with the partial activation of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) signed by power stakeholders in July.

Partial activation of the PPA requires players in the sector to meet their minimum requirements.

A source in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), disclosed that in the first leg of the power business; power generating companies (GENCOS), must generate the stipulated power they signed to produce in the PPA.

Failure to generate the contracted power by the GENCOS will attract commensurate penalties up to the amount of energy not supplied as agreed.

Equally, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) must be able to evacuate and wheel all the power generated by the GENCOS. They also face penalties if they fail to wheel all the power produced by GENCOS.

Equally the distribution companies (DISCOS) are expected to also distribute all the power wheeled to them by the TCN. Failure to meet that target exposes the Discos to severe penalties.

Meanwhile, the Power Purchase Agreement seems to be working, at least for now, as available data from industry players suggest improved supply.

For instance, an average of 93,183MWh of electricity was supplied to consumers in August 2022, as against an average of 86,221MWh sent out in July according to data released by the TCN.

Likewise, checks revealed that energy production spiked in August, with a daily average generation of 94,281.68MWh.

The improvement in power production and distribution continued in September, with a total of 102,875.3MWh of energy generated, while 101,630MWh was supplied, representing 98.8% of the total generated electricity. The highest frequency recorded on Thursday was 51.1Hz, while the lowest frequency was 49.8Hz.

“This explains the improved power supply Nigerians have witnessed in the last month. It has never happened before in the nation’s history for 98.8% of the power generated to be transmitted and distributed to the end users. Let us pray that they will be able to sustain it”, declared Engineer Bolutife Ibidapo, an electrical engineer and CEO of BPL Powers Nigeria.

So you see, it is neither a fluke, APC propaganda nor is it because of the rainy season, the coming elections, or magic. No real or sustainable development and change happen by magic. It takes real, focused, dedicated, and consistent hard work. As President Buhari said: “Order is better than speed”.

That is why I say our hope, belief, and support are not based on a phantom but rather on verifiable and verified facts and realities. It can only get better.

#NeverChangeAWinningTeam

#GodBlessNigeria

©️ Uche Diala.

#donolive