THE IMPLICATION OF UNSTABLE ELECTRICITY POWER SUPPLY ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA: A CASE OF KOGI STATE

ABAUKAKA THOMAS ONIMISI, Ph.D

 ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT,

FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, OKENE,

 KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

08032571925/ thomasabaukaka@yahoo.com

Abstract

The study x-rayed the implication of unstable electricity power supply on the socio-economic activities in Nigeria. In an attempt to obtain the results justifying the objectives of the study necessitate the gathering of necessary data from the business operators and households segments of the society. This was done through the adoption of a well structured questionnaire. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using inferential statistics owing to the nature of the data. It was established from the findings that the lack of stable electricity supply in the country with reference to the focus state, Kogi State has created a scenario whereby overhead cost of businesses has been unnecessarily heightened due to extra cost of privately generated alternative energy supply leading to unabated inflation. It has also been established that the households are enmeshed in energy poverty as they often resort to unclean and unsafe alternative domestic fuel such as firewood and wood charcoal which have both health and environmental concern. The study therefore advocates amongst others that the government should provide rural communities with solar or wind energy to boost overall energy supply in the country and that power distribution companies should immediately stop direct electric billing to customers and ensure that provision of electricity meters becomes their prime responsibility in order to improve  the efficiency in the power sector.

Keywords: Unstable electricity, power supply, socio-economic activities, Nigeria

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