Ostensibly, only a glutton would suggest that we live to eat. However, by necessity we must eat to stay alive and healthy. Food is an essential fuel that the body metabolises to generate human energy, which, in turn, powers all mental and physical activities. Across the evolutionary milestones of the nomadic hunter-gatherer, early farm-settler to the present age, man’s ability to master his environment has largely tracked technological innovation marshalled against the elements. Indeed, in all of creation, the human species is uniquely blessed with the aptitude to forge intricate tools, along with the creativity to engineer social, economic and political institutions of increasing complexity. What further defines us as human beings is the free will we possess to deploy our intelligence and skills for good or ill. History is, of course, replete with the highs and lows of man’s virtuous and imbecilic impact on our planet.

From a technical perspective, power is the rate at which energy is converted into useful output, part of which is expended to subdue frictional drag and gravitational forces. The augmentation of human energy with animal power on land and wind power on the high seas characterised an era when horsepower was the standard unit of measurement of mechanical power output. Subsequently, productivity growth soared with the invention of the steam engine, which powered the Industrial Revolution, and signalled the rise of the coal industry. The succeeding invention of electricity, as well as the internal-combustion engine, effectively ushered in the modern era, as we know it. In addition to coal, the discovery and commercial exploration of aqueous hydrocarbon resources heralded the onset of the powerful oil and gas industry that, for better or worse, continues to shape the world’s economy and geopolitics. It would be mildly hyperbolic to suggest that, absent fossil fuels, hydroelectric power, nuclear power and alternative energy sources, and today’s global economy might only be marginally different from the agrarian economy that prevailed prior to the 18th century.

Hence, from an economic standpoint, so thoroughly has electric power permeated commerce and everyday life that, along with the provision of water and other basic services, electricity is fittingly classified as a public utility. By definition, a utility symbolises a public service that is ubiquitous to such a degree that consumers take its availability for granted. At the beginning of the 21st century, information technology giants like IBM, Google, Apple, Amazon and other key players have embarked on a mission to create “cloud computing” services. This is a conscious attempt at making computer access as user-friendly as inserting a plug into an electric wall outlet. Sadly for Nigeria, we still appear to be stuck in the 19th century as far as power supply is concerned. Furthermore, the mendacity of the electricity monopoly, exemplified by flagrant billing of consumers and small businesses for non-existent services seldom fails to shock hapless end-users. Perhaps most unconscionable is government’s habit of issuing periodic threats to raise electricity tariffs, whilst foot-dragging on promised reforms. Depriving an enterprising populace of reliable and affordable electricity to operate business ventures is analogous to asking them to defy gravity or to run a marathon wearing leg-irons.

In Nigeria, it is apparent that not all monopolies are created equal. The memory of government’s ludicrous procrastination prior to the deregulation of the Nigerian telecommunications industry remains vivid. Could anyone recall the advent of the Nigerian Telecommunications Plc (NITEL), the unlamented state monopoly, with anything other than distaste? Presently, the performance of its still-cuddled electricity counterpart, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), proves the qualified adage that “monopoly status corrupts and absolute monopoly corrupts absolutely”. Although the blueprints for liberalising the two industries are not equivalent, governance lapses, vested interests and official dissembling have hitherto hampered power sector reform. From 2000 onwards, successive governments have ponderously ploughed through legislative, commercial, labour union, and regulatory barriers preceding private sector competition and eventual privatisation, starting with the unbundling of PHCN into successor generating and distribution companies. Nigerians of all stripes urgently appeal to government and its agency, the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), to expedite action on the decade-long programme of reforms. Hurting badly, ordinary Nigerians now seem to recognise the causal relationship between electricity supply and economic growth, urbanisation and spreading industrialisation. Projecting and planning for future electricity demand is not rocket science, less so for a spectacularly endowed country with enormous oil, gas and coal reserves. Put simply, the missing ingredients are political resolve and a culture of accountability.

Nearer home, we just celebrated 12 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, signposted by the swearing-in of new leaders across different arms and tiers of government to oversee our affairs for the next four years. It would appear we have deepened our democracy with the conduct of the last general elections, widely adjudged free and fair. Yet time is now to strengthen our democracy further by eliciting economic growth and improvement in the living conditions of the mass of our people. We therefore expect our new leaders to stimulate growth by focusing on three essential areas, which we call the 3Es: Electricity – uninterrupted power supply; Education – better quality overall, but with more emphasis on vocational and technical education; Employment Generation – placing high accent on the rural community through agriculture, the nation’s highest employer of labour, with the creation of agricultural hubs and enterprise clusters across the nation, to reverse the insidious rural-urban drift.

All in all, every leader should realise that invariably only the living can exercise power and that mortal power is transient. Our greatest legacy manifests when power is diffused and administered with competence, honesty, prudence, compassion and the fear of God, to whom we shall ultimately give account for our stewardship.

LET US PRAY

Dear God, we acknowledge your absolute power and authority over all creation. For a species so richly favoured, much is indeed expected. Individually, and collectively, inspire us to harness our time and talents for the reformation and progress of our nation and all humankind.

Honeywell Group