Surviving the Blackouts: My Electricity Experience

Electricity supply, I believe, is one of the basic important amenities every country should have. Its benefits cannot be overstated! However, the level of availability of these basic amenities differs from one country to another. It will even interest you to know that a country that supplies light to other neighboring countries finds it difficult to give their own citizens the privilege of enjoying a steady power supply.

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When we talk of quality lighting and safety in our environment, electricity supply is vital. In our homes with the electronics that make life easier, we need it as well. What about in health care, education, and industrial production? Electricity supply works better, improving the quality of life of people in the society and in turn affecting our economic growth positively. I can't exhaust the importance of this basic amenity for humanity in a hurry.


Unfortunately, the electricity supply in my area is nothing to write home about. Here, it's annoying with the way the power holding company supplies us light. We could go weeks without the shout of UP NEPA! Even the middle-class families are striving to install solar due to the high cost of petrol. Depending on petrol means spending hugely on it weekly because we need electricity to navigate our lives.


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Recently, they started rationing the light, one week in and one week out, and I think it is even manageable, unlike what we had before. The thing is that whether you have an electricity supply or not, at the end of the month, you still face one outrageous bill from NEPA. Imagine a family paying #47,000 per month. That's crazy, something you didn't really use. I have a prepaid meter, but I usually feel for those using estimated bills in my area. It is what it is.


In the past, some sensitive part of our transformer worth millions of naira once got stolen, making us go on total blackout for two months. The power holding company didn't come to our rescue; we, the residents, raised the money and fixed the mess before our light got restored.


The power supply here is really NOT great, but there is nothing we can do other than look out for alternative means of survival. I see that in some countries, their citizens do not know what it means to live without electricity, but the reverse is the case here. Having constant electricity in so many areas in my country is like digging for gold and wondering when we will finally see this gold.When I hear about other countries and how they swim in the ocean of light with respect, I envy them. You know they receive a message or signal telling them in advance that there will be a power outage, so they know in advance; that's wonderful. Here, you will be in the middle of ironing your church cloth, and boom, the light is gone. You will either wear rumpled cloth and go to church or stay back...lol.


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Overall, I can only hope that someday , this will become a story!

This is my entry to the Sci-fi weekly prompt. Feel free to get involved here.


Images were taken from canva



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I remember a viral video of a girl that visited Nigeria for the first time and when they took light she thought she went blind 😂😂
It was funny and kinda sad, because imagine her being so used to light that only few seconds scared her. While there are places kept in darkness for years, I was so disappointed in this my country.

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Hahaha lolz
No be only blind ..chai
She just have to accept her new reality

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The fact is, you can't take away steady power supply from development.The epileptic power supply in Nigeria is saddening. More saddening considering the fact that it's a country that supply power to a neighbouring country that once celebrated 10 years of uninterrupted power supply.

Paying hugely for NEPE bill without the corresponding value shows how corrupt the leaders are...too bad.

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Yea..corruption in the highest order
Men..we are still far from reality

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Very "far" is the word ...for lack of a more suitable word.

Wishing you the very best of luck in weekly challenge

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Here, you will be in the middle of ironing your church cloth, and boom, the light is gone. You will either wear rumpled cloth and go to church or stay back...lol.

🤣🤣🤣 Don't mind Nigerian Nepa. I remember the day they brought our light, come and see the speed I used to get pepper because I wanted to use the electric blender. I was running everywhere just so they won't take the light 🤣

Living without electricity is something we are used to already and thanks to solar, though there are still things we could use light for. But I feel once you are able to get an inverter that can carry most appliances in the home, who nepa help?

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🤣🤣🤣🤣
The way I run to plug my phone and power bank eehh..u go no say we no trust this pple atall
Don't mind them, one day..we no go need them again ..we go take care of ourselves 😌

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I also believe everything will change and the rest will become a story. Thanks for sharing.

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But I think one week in and one week out is much now, when it is not your turn imagine staying a whole week without light. Maybe 2 days in and 2 days out would have been better.

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Omo..we just dey manage them anyhow ..because one complain , they go seize light

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Hmmm! You are lucky that at least after some weeks you will see light to use. I have stayed seven years without NEPA light. All thanks to solar energy system of light. I have been using it for a very long time now and it has been very helpful.
Thanks for sharing

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Electricity truly shapes our lives; steady supply is not luxury but a foundation for progress. Without steady light, life hard; with am, economy, health, and people dey truly shine.

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Omo..life go hard oo without steady current but thank God for alternatives

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Yes, the alternative like gen self dey consume better money, unexpected faults except better alternative like solar

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Living in Nigeria without steady power supply is really tough.

The struggle with bills and sudden blackouts is something many of us can relate to. Hopefully, one day constant electricity won’t just be a dream.

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The issues with bills for light we no use no be here
We can only be hopeful

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It can only get better 😔

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When I read the post about it of your country, it remind me about the old days of my country as it was same here also one decade ago. I just feel good that it's already past here and I don't want to face electricity issues any time.
!PIZZA

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Wow ..I feel like living in ur country with no issues with electricity😃

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(Edited)

This is insanity. but I can relate. unfortunately. We have had blackouts here in SA. Not all areas affected as badly as others, but some areas going without electricity for weeks at a time. The rest of us? Loadshedding for two hours every day. Usually during the most annoying times too: like supper time or between 6 nd 8am when everyone is getting ready for work or school. Then we find out that the government is supplying electricity, at a profit of course, to other South African countries!!! And who sees the profits> Definitely not us. corruption at its best 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

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Oh my ..the government is never at their best but what can we do? We can only hope for better

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