14
T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻËœ 2020
COMMENT
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
NIGERIA’S ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS AND COVID UNCERTAINTIES Electricity woes will persist until predictability and equity can be built into the system, writes Ikenna Oguguo
A
s citizens and customers, the public is the ultimate subject of the on-going debate between Nigeria’s power providers which continued Saturday April 25th, 2020. In an open letter, the transmission company of Nigeria (TCN) recommended the “capitalization of Distribution Companies� (DisCos). TCN’s suggestion to capitalize is among that of many others calling for the same, with the presumed expectation that infrastructural investments by DisCos would improve the low hours of electricity that customers experience. While the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) issued a response acknowledging the need for improvements, questions remain about whether capitalization should take priority over other possible steps. Therefore, deeper consideration of the ways our problems may be neutral to capitalization are warranted. While AEDC focused on the need to prioritize the improvement of TCN’s protection system, citizens’ imminent concerns relate to three other key issue areas. One, supply is unpredictable, people still have no advance awareness of when their locality will have power during normal conditions. Two, high levels of inequities exist, meaning some (typically affluent) localities enjoy considerably longer hours of electricity than others, and Three, there is weak accountability to customers, who are liable to pay their standby generators’ operating costs or stay in darkness, while also remaining unclear as to who in the value chain is responsible for improving year-on-year performance. The link between capitalization and predictability – or equity, or accountability – not only seems weak, but these three problems may become more salient if the sector continues investments without addressing such foundational elements. In other words, electricity woes will persist until predictability, equity and accountability can be built into the system we already have. What is apparent is how the poorest are going unheard during this COVID-19 experience, especially when it comes to public services like electricity for cooking, storing food, studying, being entertained or staying commercially productive. As it is, Nigerians get an average of 3.6 – 6.3 hours of electricity per day, but this average is made up of unannounced cuts that sometimes last days or weeks. Only 26% of Nigerian households have generators to mitigate this problem, and most of these are likely those who live in better-served areas or can afford the premium tariffs to get supply of up to 20 hours a day. Members of government and the electricity companies have shown a clear awareness of this challenge and have focused on complex solutions that citizens could benefit from. However, the populace also recognizes that help must be time-sensitive. The initiative for
PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW – IN ADVANCE – WHEN THE PROVIDERS INTEND TO SUPPLY ELECTRICITY TO THEIR AREA AND FOR HOW LONG
free electricity for two-months as a palliative is failing to come true. Likewise, the way DisCos deal with reports of disruption on twitter may be inadvertently exclusive to those who have the knowledge and resources to be on twitter requesting service restoration. There is clearly a consensus on the need for bolder measures, and the centrality of the role of DisCos is evident. However, as stated by the AEDC management in their response on April 26th, it is important we are strategic and deliberate about what those actions are to ensure inclusivity during these times. To progress towards predictability, equity and accountability, it makes sense to work towards scheduling power availability for each locality, also known as a load shedding schedule. Simply, people would like to know – in advance – when the providers intend to supply electricity to their area and for how long. It is an idea our sector had previously seen as important, and some electricity companies published schedules in some form as recently as 2017, but have since ceased. In terms of predictability, citizens can plan their use of resources, and hence, their productivity. The transparency would help improve equity, so no localities are being left too far behind. And, year-on-year, the sector could set collective improvement targets that are understood and beneficial to all classes of citizens. Undoubtedly, there are challenges with such transparency. Zambia and South Africa both publish schedules for the benefit of their sectors, and their experiences may provide foresight that improves adaptation in Nigeria. As AEDC demonstrated in their enumerations of infrastructural faults of April 23rd, 2020, structural constraints will limit accuracy of a predictive schedule. To mitigate this, Zambia’s schedule includes a disclaimer indicating that uncertainties may lead to updates on short notice, and those are communicated by an SMS system. Over time, as the members of the sector work towards the common goal of a schedule that the public can heavily rely on, measurable progression should emerge. Of course, Nigerians are neither Zambians nor South Africans, therefore, contextual variations must also be considered. Thus, we must remain aware that the task of such an improvement is one that would call for unprecedented acclaim should our sector’s leaders deliver. Although DisCos could lead such an initiative, NERC should play a role as the independent regulator. Likewise, as 40%-owner of DisCos and full owner of TCN, the federal government could be the node that encourages cooperation and expedience. Oguguo, CEng MIET, MSc, is a chartered engineer and member of the institute of engineering and technology
AFRICANS’GUANGZHOU EXPERIENCE Olalekan A. Babatunde argues that Africa-China relations will survive the Covid-19 pandemic
N
ever before in the history of China-African relations have African officials confronted China publicly and in private over the reports of alleged mistreatment of some African migrants in the Chinese city of Guangzhou. A couple of social media reports which first surfaced through some Nigerians in the city had shared scenes that depicted they were evicted from the hotels, denied access to their local restaurants and stated they were forcefully tested for the virus because, according to them, the Chinese authorities were enforcing the Coronavirus (COVID-19) measures to stem its spread. A few days later, other stories emerged that echoed the earlier images that other African nationals were involved in the prevention measures. A lot of Nigerians and their African counterparts were unhappy and felt their government should respond in kind. The African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat, after expressing concern at the accusations, called for immediate remedial measures “in line with our excellent relations.� The continental body’s Chair, South Africa called for an investigation into the matter. In Nigeria, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, was unhappy while showing a video of quarantine workers mistreating people to the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian. He said, “We will not allow Nigerians to be maltreated in other countries.� Also the African ambassadors, after protest, have demanded better treatment for African nationals after the incident. Since the diplomatic conflict, China has vowed equal treatment for Africans and other foreigners. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Zhao Lijian buttressed the point saying, “We reject differential treatment, and have zero tolerance for discrimination.� At no time in the past has a matter of this scale brought up people and officials of the two parties-Africa and China, to simultaneously been engaging each other in this manner. But because of lack of access to primary data to draw competent conclusions and understanding
from the Guangzhou incident, it is worthwhile to advance reasons why both China and Africa should mitigate the threats of division and misunderstanding. The need to guard the good relationships, which have existed for a long time between Africa and China, is critical to douse tension and thwart some western media and organizations that have latched on the opportunity to express criticisms and condemn China for what had happened. Already, a top US diplomat to Africa, Tibor Nagy had described the Guangzhou report as “appalling� as one the State Department official said the episode was “a sad reminder of how hollow the PRC-Africa relationship really is.� Meanwhile, it is crucially important to have a sense of the enormity of the task the Chinese authorities must have been confronted with since the outbreak of the pandemic. From the time when Coronavirus started in Wuhan in December 2019 to mid-April 2020, a wide range of efforts were deployed at understanding the virus, preventing its spread both within and outside their country, treating the infected, protecting and caring for the rest populace. According to the Bloomberg News April 16, referring to the city Mayor, Wen Guohui, “Guangzhou has confirmed a total of 119 imported cases of Covid-19, with 25 being foreign nationals.� So the need to prevent the spread to and from China became an obligation. Too, this is a disease no one fully understands how it spreads and wreaks havoc. Therefore, as we have seen across the globe, countries are taken appropriate actions to curb its spread, and if not handled properly could trigger misunderstanding and conflict. Likewise, China has assured equal treatment for Africans in its territory and promised to establish communication mechanism with African nations’ consulates in Guangzhou. While the two parties’ diplomatic moves at achieving genuine resolution and reconciliation of the imbroglio are laudable, it is also worth remembering how the relations started and nurtured over the years and why it should be fostered for the good of both sides. Understanding this aspect of the relations will deter any contrary narratives targeted at the coronavirus dispute.
Africa and China have come a long way, and both attached strategic value to each other. As far back as the ancient times, Africa has had some interactions with China when the latter traded with the Horn of Africa in porcelain, silk, sliver and other wares. Explorers like Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta as well as the discovered routes and wrecked ships attested to the feat. But it was not until the post-Cold War that Africa politically connected with the People’s Republic of China. Aid, moral and material support was given to liberation movements in the Southern African countries of Mozambique, Angola and the Apartheid South Africa. The Bandung Afro-Asian Conference of April 1955 has also provided an opportunity for Africa and Asia, especially China and Africa to further strengthen direct relationship. During the conference, the then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Vice Premier Chen Yi, who was also the foreign minister, had talks with the then Egyptian premier Nasser and representatives from Ghana, Nigeria, Libya, Sudan, Liberia and Ethiopia. This strategic engagement renewed the positive relationship between China and Africa. With that solid foundation of friendship, a new era was birthed for a flourishing relationships and partnership. For example, Africa supported China in its bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Several Chinese leaders like Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou Enlai and Mr. Deng Xiaoping and President Xi have visited Africa while African leaders have also gone to China to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Since the Mao’s visit, successive Chinese leaders have been to Africa to foster closer diplomatic, economic and socio-cultural cooperation. Both have also shared similar socio-economic and political experience in contemporary history. China and Africa suffered from invasion, plunder and enslavement by colonialists. They gave sympathy and support to each other in their struggles against colonialism, liberation and national independence. It was the birth of new China in 1949 that opened up a new chapter in Sino-African relations. Between 1950 and 1970, a great number of newly inde-
pendent African countries established diplomatic relations with China, and Sino-African relationship thus ushered into a new era of all-round development. This strong beginning in relations should not be allowed to be shattered on the platter of a virus. Today, both Africa and China are benefitting from the rich cooperation. On multilateral basis, platforms such as the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) that were launched in 2013 have been the visible channel China is engaging Africa. It is the launch of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013 by President Xi Jinping that opened up another opportunity for Africa’s infrastructure development, investment, finance and trade. Given the Africa’s development challenges in which the western colonization and globalization as well as the treatment of Bretton Woods Institutions have contributed, it is China that is supporting the continent through the BRI to better the lot of the people. This is promoting the people-to-people integration that is one of the cardinal goals of BRI. In addition, the existing world order has been unfair to Africa and thereby created constraints for its growth and development. With the promises of extraordinary support in the last decades, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer in a syndrome of effects. Debt, unequal trade balance, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, diseases and abuses are some of the effects of the unfulfilled promises. Africa’s relation with China is changing all that. Roads, bridges, dams, telecommunication outfits, farms, among others can be sighted in Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Djibouti and a host other African countries. Efficiency and effectiveness have improved tremendously the ways of life of the people and institutions in the continent. Facilitated transportation of goods, communication and job opportunities are some of the examples. Dr Babatunde is a historian, fellow, peacebuilding and evidence practitioner at the Nigeria’s Institute for Peace and Conict Resolution, Abuja