In the wake of the incessant collapse of the national grid, state governments have been advised to build strong solar energy systems and mini-grids as alternative sources of electricity.

Some residents of Makurdi gave the advice in separate interviews with journalists on Saturday.

According to the residents, the recurring collapse of the national grid is becoming an embarrassing issue for Nigeria.

They, therefore, urged state governments to do everything possible to have alternative energy sources to mitigate the impact of the persistent collapse of the national grid.

Jennifer Tema, a 67-year-old restaurant owner, said the regular collapse of the national grid had caused so much damage to her business.

Ms Tema said she had been recording losses of her perishable foods worth millions of naira due to the recurring power outage.

“I just hope that state governments will rise to the occasion and get alternative energy sources for us to mitigate these losses,” she said.

Another resident, Dennis Tyosula, who operates a computer centre and betting shop in Makurdi, said the lack of a steady power supply affected his businesses.

Mr Tyosula said he was buying fuel between N1,200 and N1,350 to power the generators at his two shops and, as a result, was not making any profit but incurring losses.

He said he uses between 16 and 18 litres of petrol daily when there is no power supply.

Meanwhile, a top staff member of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), who spoke to journalists anonymously, said the government was not yet ready to resolve the power outage issue in the country.

The source noted that top government officials in the power sector who were benefiting from the current system failure did not want the problem to be resolved.

According to the source, most officials have secretly acquired company shares and are only interested in getting profits from them.

“My brother, the problem in the power sector is not solely with us, the distribution companies,” said the staff member. ”Every new government has its officials in the sector who do not have the interest of the country at heart.”

“All of them want the bad system to continue so that they too would benefit from it. There is no end in sight yet. The issue of national grid is the most embarrassing of all,” the source said.

The JEDC official also said Nigeria had the technology and manpower to handle its power challenges and curb the incessant power failure due to grid collapse.

“The only way forward, for now, is for states to build their mini-grids or establish strong solar energy power sources in the interest of their citizens.

“It is high time we stopped relying on only one source of energy supply,“ the source added. 

(NAN)