Chief Emeka Charles Kalu, a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and National Coordinator of the PDP Coalition PDPCO, as well as Director General of the Global Initiatives for Good Governance GIGG, shared his views on national issues in an interview with Ejikeme Omenazu. He discussed topics including the recurring collapse of the national grid, the politics of the oil and gas sector, the risks of CNG vehicles, and the dangers of accumulating more foreign loans.
On the Cause of National Grid Collapse
When asked about military claims that terrorist actions are behind the frequent collapse of Nigeria's National Grid, Kalu disagreed, attributing the problem to widespread corruption in the public sector, particularly in the power sector. He explained that corruption had weakened the operational integrity of the sector, leading to the use of substandard materials in the national grid, which has contributed significantly to its instability. Kalu stressed that the power sector is critical to the nation's industrial and production activities, and the failure to address corruption and improve operational standards had left Nigeria's economy "crawling." He supported the military's assertion, recognizing the negative impact of substandard systems and material choices.
On Corruption and the EFCCs View
Kalu agreed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, whose head linked the frequent grid collapses to corruption. He reiterated that corruption is the root cause of the challenges plaguing the power sector. He argued that funds meant for the sector were often diverted for selfish gains, leading to weak projects and a lack of stability. Kalu called for urgent reforms in the sector, particularly in management and operational systems, to stabilize the grid and address the underlying corruption.
On Decentralizing the National Grid
Regarding suggestions to decentralize the power grid to the six geopolitical zones, Kalu expressed support for this idea. He explained that decentralization would ease the centralized control of power and allow each region to be managed by local governments and relevant bodies. This, he argued, would improve efficiency in service delivery, allow for better monitoring of operations, and enable regional governments to better assess management performance. Kalu also pointed out that decentralization could help address issues such as outrageous metering and high energy bills, which consumers are increasingly dissatisfied with.
In summary, Kalu emphasized that comprehensive management reforms, including decentralization, are necessary to address the frequent grid collapses, corruption, and consumer dissatisfaction in the power sector, while also ensuring long-term stability and efficiency.
