Electricity Without Vision (2): Build Lives - Not Monuments

Newsflash: Nigeria is planning a $2 billion “super grid” to modernize its power network and curb chronic blackouts.

Critics warn that it could become another costly, underperforming megaproject.

Don Kenobi writes:

Chances are, the funds will go the way of so many others — misused and unaccounted for. And in the end, we the people will bear the cost.

With the AKK pipeline slicing from the northwest to the southeast — spanning at least three geopolitical zones — and with Lagos already having gas infrastructure, that leaves only two zones still in real need of gas spurlinks.

For what purpose then?

For $2 billion, you could purchase 1,000 units of the INNIO Jenbacher J624 gas generators — each capable of generating 4 MW of power.

That’s 4,000 MW in total — doubling our current national output.

Now divide that across our six geopolitical zones:

Each zone gets 160 units, with the remaining 67 units assigned to Abuja.

That’s 640 MW of additional power per zone — and local distribution networks already exist. Where they’re inadequate, build them.

And let that building be driven by economic sense, not politics.

A simple, scalable solution for bringing power to the grassroots is the creation of CBAs or GasHarbours — terms coined by GasAfrique.

CBA stands for Centralized (or Central) Business Areas — essentially industrial parks for small entrepreneurs, artisans, and even market women.

Such clusters allow for shared gas and power costs among hundreds of users, fulfilling the basic economic criteria for viability. While not ideal, it brings power to as many people as possible. Even if only for 8–12 hours a day, it boosts productivity and stimulates local enterprise.

Our current proposal calls for three pilot CBAs in each state — one in each geopolitical zone.

Spending $2 billion on a national grid where there’s nothing to carry is pure waste.

Whatever generation exists should be distributed locally.

Let Kainji serve its environs.

Let Egbin serve awon egbon in the southwest.

Ditto Sapele.

Now, name other national power plants — most people can’t.

So in essence, we’re about to spend $2 billion building garages for cars we don’t have — cars which, given our ethical challenges, we may never even purchase.

It’s a rush we cannot afford — a loan we cannot afford to take.

If we must spend $2 billion, let the intent be clear: to deliver power to as many citizens as possible.

Let us shift the narrative.

Africa does not need another parade of white elephants — grand, gleaming projects that, given the paucity of funds, compete directly with the development of the continent’s most valuable resource: its human capital.

Let our investments illuminate lives, not monuments.

Let the billions work where they matter — in the hands of communities, craftsmen, and small enterprises that turn power into productivity, and productivity into prosperity.

Let our investments illuminate lives, not monuments.

I rest my case.

Don Kenobi

#GasAfrique | #BigAgendaAfrica #EnergyForDevelopment

#dk



Thanks for your time.

You may want to read this: https://donkenobi.wordpress.com/2025/10/14/electricity-without-vision-the-funding-gap-fallacy-part-2/

#dk