You have simply repeated your agenda without carving out fairly to explore any other pointers to this topic. You talk about many Africans having near 24/7 electricity supply and still being underdeveloped - I waited here in vain to see you list one with constant power supply whose per capital income has dwindled to $850.
It's clear that 24/7 power supply is not the only factor for development, but you forget that if you commit to achieving this as a country, it'll affect production. And why do you keep repeating yourself about 5000KW grid as though it cannot be improved on, or other sources of electric power explored if we're to have constant electricity?
Mention one developed country that has interrupted power supply to back your point on the other hand since you have supposed "many African countries" aren't doing better with 'near 24/7' power supply. Stop being intellectually dishonest. The countries who solved this primary energy source for their societies 100 years ago are not foolish. This factor alone puts every society on track to up its production economy.
Still, the other countries you may end up mentioning in Africa who aren't as developed with near constant electricity, I bet are still above Nigeria on many indices of growth. How do you factor power hasn't completely shaped their realities on the rise? If you want a model to answer this question, look at developed economies and confidently make your point about electricity not driving development. Abnormality has become norm, I cannot blame you or anyone thinking like this.
"I think we all know that it is impossible to develop without energy. Energy is important, but it is not all that matters nor is it the most important."
I literally just copied this from your first paragraphs.
What is most important for development that energy has no stake in?
Please stay on the topic. Remember you said in the article I mentioned that "it is not major factor".
Now, is saying it is not the most important the same as "not major factor"?
The answer is no, but I suspect you will disagree because you are dishonest.
Now to your question, I don't know a single thing that is the most important for development. Even the field of development economics doesn't, that's why it is still a field. Many important things must work well for development to happen.
Anyone telling you otherwise is selling you snake oil. I'm not optimistic but I hope you won't fall for that.
PS: I am engaging you because you seem to have read the article. That said, you are free to reach as many conclusions as possible without me interrupting going forward.
I agree with the points you raised in this article.
I’ve worked on electrifying rural communities and introducing productive uses of electricity, witnessing firsthand the impact going from 0 to 1 can have… aligning closely with your fourth point. I think this is where many assume Nigeria starts from: 0, but we’re definitely not at 0.
While electricity alone isn’t a silver bullet, I believe affordable electricity at scale can be one of the catalysts for wealth creation in Nigeria. Key word being: Affordable.
While this post makes a lot of sense, quite wonderful, and several points I could not have brought up on my own, it is a big reach to say ‘stop looking for silver bullets’.
It’s like saying what will the average Nigerian do with 24/7 electricity. I’ve lived with and without 24/7 electricity and I’ve accomplished way more than I could ever think of just because I did not have to think about something as simple as my laptop being on.
So I agree with you that is is not the end all and be all, but the gains that will be had from simply having it will be massive and then we can improve from there. We cannot continue to refer to ourselves as giants and cannot have a competitive global workforce and manufacturing industry without something as simple as electricity being fixed.
When we get to A we can solve for B.
Thank you for opening my eyes, I just wanted to make this point.
Nearly all productivity gains from near constant electricity in Nigeria will be driven by individual use and innovation.
1. Education. Those who are interested (admittedly low proportion) will gain more education. I concede that a majority will use the electricity to watch tiktok.
2. Investment confidence. The grid being reliable is enough to give confidence to some industrial investors. I concede that the optimism will be directly tied to having Nigerian genes. Most such increased confidence investors will be diasporans.
I think the above are critical building blocks of a positive economy. I deliberately refused to talk about remote work. Mostly because those concerned are already seeking their own solutions and will likely still not rely on the grid. I am including scammers (an evil simultaneous lifeblood and scourge of the economy) in remote work.
To buttress your points Victor Kalu, we all remember when MTN SIM card was N50k and only few can afford it now you can go around with as many SIM cards as possible. Things will get better, the 24/7 light is how old “self”?
You have simply repeated your agenda without carving out fairly to explore any other pointers to this topic. You talk about many Africans having near 24/7 electricity supply and still being underdeveloped - I waited here in vain to see you list one with constant power supply whose per capital income has dwindled to $850.
It's clear that 24/7 power supply is not the only factor for development, but you forget that if you commit to achieving this as a country, it'll affect production. And why do you keep repeating yourself about 5000KW grid as though it cannot be improved on, or other sources of electric power explored if we're to have constant electricity?
Mention one developed country that has interrupted power supply to back your point on the other hand since you have supposed "many African countries" aren't doing better with 'near 24/7' power supply. Stop being intellectually dishonest. The countries who solved this primary energy source for their societies 100 years ago are not foolish. This factor alone puts every society on track to up its production economy.
Still, the other countries you may end up mentioning in Africa who aren't as developed with near constant electricity, I bet are still above Nigeria on many indices of growth. How do you factor power hasn't completely shaped their realities on the rise? If you want a model to answer this question, look at developed economies and confidently make your point about electricity not driving development. Abnormality has become norm, I cannot blame you or anyone thinking like this.
"It's clear that 24/7 power supply is not the only factor for development", it's good to see that you realise this.
Go and read the opening paragraphs of my essay again and see if it's different from that quote from your comment.
Do you just like arguing without considering the premise? It's a waste of time for both of us. Enjoy.
You argue it is not major factor, and have failed to mention a single case of a developed economy without constant power supply.
Bring a direct quote from the article where I said it is not a major factor.
"I think we all know that it is impossible to develop without energy. Energy is important, but it is not all that matters nor is it the most important."
I literally just copied this from your first paragraphs.
What is most important for development that energy has no stake in?
Please stay on the topic. Remember you said in the article I mentioned that "it is not major factor".
Now, is saying it is not the most important the same as "not major factor"?
The answer is no, but I suspect you will disagree because you are dishonest.
Now to your question, I don't know a single thing that is the most important for development. Even the field of development economics doesn't, that's why it is still a field. Many important things must work well for development to happen.
Anyone telling you otherwise is selling you snake oil. I'm not optimistic but I hope you won't fall for that.
PS: I am engaging you because you seem to have read the article. That said, you are free to reach as many conclusions as possible without me interrupting going forward.
But. You are still yet to list the so called African countries who are poor with 24/7 electricity.
I agree with the points you raised in this article.
I’ve worked on electrifying rural communities and introducing productive uses of electricity, witnessing firsthand the impact going from 0 to 1 can have… aligning closely with your fourth point. I think this is where many assume Nigeria starts from: 0, but we’re definitely not at 0.
While electricity alone isn’t a silver bullet, I believe affordable electricity at scale can be one of the catalysts for wealth creation in Nigeria. Key word being: Affordable.
While this post makes a lot of sense, quite wonderful, and several points I could not have brought up on my own, it is a big reach to say ‘stop looking for silver bullets’.
It’s like saying what will the average Nigerian do with 24/7 electricity. I’ve lived with and without 24/7 electricity and I’ve accomplished way more than I could ever think of just because I did not have to think about something as simple as my laptop being on.
So I agree with you that is is not the end all and be all, but the gains that will be had from simply having it will be massive and then we can improve from there. We cannot continue to refer to ourselves as giants and cannot have a competitive global workforce and manufacturing industry without something as simple as electricity being fixed.
When we get to A we can solve for B.
Thank you for opening my eyes, I just wanted to make this point.
Nearly all productivity gains from near constant electricity in Nigeria will be driven by individual use and innovation.
1. Education. Those who are interested (admittedly low proportion) will gain more education. I concede that a majority will use the electricity to watch tiktok.
2. Investment confidence. The grid being reliable is enough to give confidence to some industrial investors. I concede that the optimism will be directly tied to having Nigerian genes. Most such increased confidence investors will be diasporans.
I think the above are critical building blocks of a positive economy. I deliberately refused to talk about remote work. Mostly because those concerned are already seeking their own solutions and will likely still not rely on the grid. I am including scammers (an evil simultaneous lifeblood and scourge of the economy) in remote work.
To buttress your points Victor Kalu, we all remember when MTN SIM card was N50k and only few can afford it now you can go around with as many SIM cards as possible. Things will get better, the 24/7 light is how old “self”?
Get a load of this bullshit. You guys are insufferable
"Many countries in Africa, and in West Africa, have electricity supply close to 24/7, but they are a cautionary tale."
What? Which countries?
I agree with the points you make but I have certain reservations about point 4 and 8.
I state them here.
https://lazycruise.substack.com/p/electricity-as-a-development-lever
Bless you chief!