SLC-S29/W1-“Thinking and Ideas!| If You Were in Charge!”

When you become a leader, you realise that whatever decision you make is aimed to secure the future of the people and not about comfort or popularity like our Nigeria leaders make it to look like. When the mantle of power is been handed over to you, your job is to confront the most fundamental challenges holding the country for decades.

Now that I happened to be a fictional leader, I will be telling you what i will handling in my country Nigeria.

The first issue I will tackle is the power failure in the country. This is one of the major challenge that has plagued the average Nigerians for decades. The light situation is so bad in the country that anytime they bring light in the country, you see kids celebrating outside.

We grew up hearing that Nigerians were supplying neighbouring countries like Ghana power but guess what, this country know longer use our light and the electricity is now more stable than Nigeria with 24hrs power supply.

Nigeria has been in darkness for far too long, literally and economically. Electricity is one of the major foundation of development and without it, it looks as if you are living in the Stone age era. As a result of lack of electricity, companies both big and small are finding it hard to set up there base here. They will rather set up there head quarters in neighbouring African countries that supplies them 24/7 power supply and open subsidiary branches in Nigeria despite the fact we have high manpower here.

Even the indigenous industries we have are struggling daily to stay afloat inorder to compete with their foreign counterparts. Hospitals operate at risk, students cannot study effectively, and citizens have to buy diesel or fuel daily for their generator in order to run their home or small business.

It will be so hard for a country like Nigeria to move forward when most of the energy is spent buying generators , solar system and inverters trying to survive the dark.

Having steady power supply in a country like Nigeria we greatly help the country in areas of job creation. Nigeria has one of the highest unemployment rate in the world. So, imagine if we have steady power, it will attract foreign investors to set up their companies here and this will create lot of jobs in the country.

Another reason i chose electricity is because of the economic importance it will be for the average Nigerians. Since we hardly have enough power, businesses that manage to generate their own power will definitely put their operational cost in their products, making it so expensive for Nigerians to buy. But if Power is settled, the cost of production will drop drastically and it will be at an affordable price.

People find it hard to go outside at night because many of the street lights is switched off due to power outage. This gives these criminals to attack commuters at will. But if the country is lightened up, it will reduce crimes.

There have been several reports of patients loosing their lives as a result of blackout and faulty backup generators in the health care sector. Imagine, if your loved ones was unlucky to meet such fate because of something as common as power supply in other countries. Having steady power supply will make Healthcare becomes safer and more efficient.

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Back in the university, we had no choice than to use candlelight or rechargeable light to read our books in the midnight hours when there is no light. Sometimes, you have to go to 7am classes without bathing because no power to pump water especially students staying off campus. But if light becomes steady, the standard of education will improve. Even this idea of using black/white board will be eliminated and schools can now moved to digital boards to teach students.

I would have to place an embargo on importation of generators into the country and using the money meant for subsidising fuel and diesel, in buying Solar, setting up gas turbines in different places in the country and rehabilitating our national grid that keeps collapsing all the time like a sick puppy.

There would definitely be a push back because those importers of generators and fuel marketers won't go down so easily without a fight because that would mean them loosing their source of income.

The short term impact will definitely bring about uproar from small and medium scale business like Artisans, barbers, cold-room operators because that's what they depend on for their survival since the electricity are not reliable.

Some politicians will also resist it because they know how much they stand to gain in keeping the country in darkness. Most of this large generator contractors often lobby government officials for import licenses, supply contracts, and policy protection.

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The only thing that Nigerians needs right now is someone that would be honest and transparent in their dealings in situations like this because we hardly trust ourselves talk more of the leaders.

To gain the trust of those who genuinely disagree not the one fighting for their selfish interest, I'll have to put myself in their shoes and explain to them that I understand their pains and I do not dismiss your fear.

But for a better Nigeria to happen, a change must take place. It might be uncomfortable at the moment but temporary discomfort is better than permanent suffering. So just bear with me. We can't afford to keep spending billions on darkness while calling it survival

I would also try to be as transparent as possible and also set a clear timeline. so people can see that their sacrifice is producing real results.

I decided to convert the post into an "AI video". I am still in the learning stage. Hope you enjoy it as you Watch.