Nigerians reportedly spend 1.6 TRILLION NAIRA on generators annually!

The Director-General of Centre for Management Development, Dr Kabir Usman, has said that about 60 million Nigerians spend N1.6 trillion on generators annually.

Dr Usman said this while delivering his speech at the launch of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) graduate skills development programme in Abuja, on Monday.

He said that Nigeria had the highest number of standby generators, which had become permanent, making the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) the standby. He, therefore, said "currently, there are about 60 million generators in Nigeria at the ratio of one per household of 2.5 people with an annual spending of N1.6 trillion."


Dr Usman further said that the presence of the too many generators has caused many deaths in the nation as a result of carbon monoxide emission.

He revealed that the Nigeria's highly inadequate supply of electricity adds 40 per cent to the cost of goods produced in the country. According to him, "the situation has compelled many industries to either shut down or relocate to neighbouring countries."

He also said that the poorest Nigerians paid more than N80/kwh burning candles, kerosene and firewood while manufacturers paid between N45 and N60/kwh on diesel to run their generators.

Dr Usman then said that the availability of electricity would improve production, national income would grow, per capita income would grow and the standard of living would grow. He added: "The idea of graduate training programme by NAPTIN to provide the required manpower is timely and wise. To ensure the success of such reform, the demand of participation by each state on this national agenda is cogent."

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Power, Mr Darius Ishaku, said that creation of NAPTIN set the machinery in motion for the development of the required human capital.

He said that NAPTIN had taken a lead in planning and executing training.

By: Collins Nnabuife/Nigerian Tribune