By God’spower Ede
There is no gain saying the fact that energy is an essential requirement to propel the socio-economic development of any society.
This follows the fact that energy sources such as electricity, Petroleum products, gas, charcoal, fire woods among others are highly needed to support the productive sector.
For instance, electricity remains a major source of energy to many homes, offices and businesses in Urban centres across the country.
Equally, Petroleum products such as premium motor spirits PMS, otherwise known as fuel and diesel are also used to power Vehicles and generating sets for the manufacturing sectors and residential homes. .
Likewise, the Liquified Natural gas LPG, popurlaly known as cooking gas, charcoal and firewood are common sources of energy for cooking and other forms of production activities among many Nigerians.
However, the absence or shortage of these energy sources has impacted negatively on human lives, thereby causing untold hardships among the people.
Here in Nasarawa State, the epileptic power supply by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company AEDC has remain a source of concern to citizens, especially residents of Lafia the state capital.
In spite of the high tariff and outrageous bills often slammed on consumers by the electricity distribution company, the state has continued to recueve inadequate power supplies, throwing the cities to gross darkness for most times.
Even the recent intervention by the patriotic members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly through a motion of public interest by the member representing Lafia Central constituency, Solomon AKwashiki has failed to yield long time results as low voltage and occasional blackouts have become the norms in most parts of Lafia metropolis and beyond.
Equally worrisome is the attitudes of independent oil marketers in Lafia due to their arbitrary hikes in the pump price of Petroleum products for selfish gains to the detriment of the masses.
Findings indicates that such products are often sold at Government approved prices or slightly above the official rates in Western and Northern parts of the state with the exception of Lafia and its environs, thus making life unbearable for motorists and other users of the essential commodities.
While the nationwide prices of cooking gas are presently beyond the reach of the common man, the local subtitudes such as Charcoal and firewood are also expensive in Lafia as compared to other parts of the State.
This therefore brings to mind the pertinent question as to why are the costs of energy extremely expensive in Lafia the Nasarawa State Capital other than erstwhile?
With this development, the poor masses are unfortunately at the receiving end because the bumerrang effects of the chaotic energy crisis has led to unnecessary high cost of living in the city and its environs.
To effectively tackle these menace therefore, the Government of Nasarawa State must rise to the occasion by taking pro-active steps and intervene in the energy crisis through the establishment of regulatory bodies to checkmate the excesses of the key players.
The Government huge investment in the 330 KVA Akurba power sub-station in Lafia is no doubt a strategic initiative geared towards ensuring stable stable power supply in Nasarawa State, same as the neighbouring Plateau, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja.
Therefore, the current epileptic power supplies in the state is rather an aberration to the dreams and aspirations of the Government and people of Nasarawa State.
Equally, the prolong hike in prices of Petroleum products calls for scrutiny of activities of the Lafia Oil cabals to end the monopoly of those who do not wish the prices to ever go down while charcoal and firewood sellers must be checkmated to avoid exploitation of the already impoverished masses.
Like it is often said, without light, there is no colour and without light, there is no life, hence the time to energize Nasarawa State for enhanced socio-economic prosperity is now.
God’s Power is a senior editor with Nasarawa Broadcasting Service, Lafia