Pre-Assignment Throwback: Mummy!!!

This happened during our pre-assignment visit in October-November 2014.

We arrived around Maghrib (dusk) after a long journey from Malaysia, and Ben was first to go to the toilet....when suddenly.....Mummy!!! He shouted. 

Blackout! The whole hotel and surrounding areas too!

Power outage at a supermarket..

oppps!

power is back, courtesy of the generator

It was only a moment (few seconds) for the huge generator at the hotel kicked in and power was restored. Yes, my friends...not to annoy my Nigerian friends, but the country  runs on generator (at certain times of the day). It gets easier with each passing day once the children are prepared for it. So far, the range (of blackout) has been between 4 seconds to a minute and a half (courtesy of Ben's calculation). We would just remain where we are, until the lights came on. Clever.

We have TNB (Tenaga Nasional Berhad), they had NEPA  (National Electrical Power Authority) which these ever creative and resourceful Nigerians call: Never Expects Power Always. They changed it to PHCN (Power Holding Company of Nigeria) I bet some people would say, "Hah, let's see about that. We have changed name..no more joke!" and still the cheeky ones come up with Problem Has Changed Name. hahahahahah...cute!

Power shortage is a problem here in Nigeria. A friend of mine did not refer these outages as blackouts, but as "load shedding". Power is regulated around the country. Yesterdays (March, 24th) newspaper claimed that they have sufficient power generation of 4500MW to go all out in providing uninterrupted elecric power to the nation, but the act of sabotaging the fuel line is a problem here. 

It has been like this for ages. Power on and off is a common thing here. Apart from the generator, we also have UPS (Uninterrupted Power System - a battery) that we connect to TV and some other electric sensitive items. It does not annoy me anymore, but I pity my friends who have to invest on a generator or two (different capacity and usage) and fuel them too. Some, in other states would opt not to install generator  or UPS altogether at home. 

I do hope, in my lifetime they would find way to curb these act of sabotage and ensure a continuous electric supply to the population of this country. It is an essential thing and government's responsible to provide its people with sufficient electricity. Power outage is a threat to the national security too.

I bet, now that since the country is going to the election (after postponing from Feb. 14th to March 28th), the Government would remind the people of its good deeds. I implore to you, both current and the next President.. Please Sir, it is the government's job to do and provide all that is necessary for the country and its people WITHOUT reminding them of this and that. It's thru good governance and transparency will win the day, eventually. Utopian in nature, but possible to do. I think.

As it is, that's how things are in Nigeria...like Madam's friend mentioned in her Fb, "that's how we roll". So true, indeed!