THE RISING USE OF GENERATORS IN NIGERIA AND ITS EFFECT ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

BY

ADOKURU CHRISTOPHER AMASORM.TECH/2006/SET/1570DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIESFEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY MINNA, NIGER STATE.

ABSTRACT

Nigeria is ravaged with the problem of effective power generation and supply. This has been

a source of worry to many citizens over the years and has crippled the Nation’s economy due

to reduced National production output. Most houses are in perpetual darkness while

businesses shut down day by day due to poor power supply from the national grid. Various

power supply alternatives have been employed by individuals, businesses and corporate

bodies, to cushion the effect of lack of power. A popular alternative to the problem of power

generation in the country has been the use portable power generators. Many houses now run

on generators regularly. And the number of households using portable generators in Nigeria

has apparently increased significantly over the last 10 years. Such generators when used

constitute a nuisance to the environment by the release of harmful gases, noise pollution and

most times causes vibrations to the surroundings. This affects the health and comfort of

people around such buildings. This paper explores the impact and effect of this high use of

power generators in our buildings and to the surrounding environment.

Key words: Air and noise pollution, Health, Generators, Alternative means of power.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Nigeria's social and economic development is being threatened by the incessant power

problem in the country, which seems to have taken a turn for the worse in recent times. In

2004, the total installed power capacity was 5.9 gigawatts (GW). Total electricity generation

during 2004 was 19 billion kilowatt/hour (Bkwh), while total consumption was 18 Bkwh

(Nigeria: Energy Information Administration report 2007). But only about 3.5GW (i.e. 40%)

of the installed capacity gets to the consumers. Several government administrations have tried

to resolve this problem through funding of the power sector and the creation of more power

generating stations across the country. These inputs by government has always been

jeopardised by vandals and most of all; corruption. Several billions of naira have been

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invested into the power sector without any significant improvement in power supply. During

the Obasanjo administration, the government invested about N350 billion in the power sector

which has yielded little effort to the country’s 3,000MW (Eboh, 2008). The plan was to have

an additional power generation capacity of 3,500MW from the development of 277 potential

sites of small hydro-power plants located around the country. But all these were rarely

accomplished due to corruption by government officials, mismanagement and broken

infrastructure.

The current president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar Adua, pledged at

the inception of his administration to declare a state of emergency in the power sector. The

state of emergency was later declared in the month of May 2008 at the country’s capital

Abuja. The declaration is to last till year 2011. This had heightened expectation for a swift

and permanent solution to the problem of power. But several months after the declaration,

Nigeria can still not boast of providing effective power supply to homes and businesses.

Several homes and businesses therefore rely on alternative power sources, especially through

the use of portable power generators to power appliances. This situation has led to increased

importation of portable generators into the country. According to Oguotobo (2007), Nigeria is

the largest importer of generators in the world, with over N1.3 trillions been spent in the last

four years purchasing generators in an effort to respond to the declining power supply in the

country. And it has also been observed that using generators constitute an environmental risk

if not properly managed or maintained. The National Emergency Management Agency

(NEMA) in November, 2008 warned the public against the wrong use of power generating

sets, especially during the dry season. The Agency regretted that lives and property have been

lost to fire outbreaks due to poorly maintained generators. The fumes from these generating

sets make users susceptible to asphyxiation. According to a report by Segun James (2008), a

prophet and his three wives were on a faithful night suffocated to death by fumes from the

family's generating set at their home in Etegwe, Yenagoa. This is not an isolated case as

certainly. Several incidences like this are bound to happen across the country with the

increase use of generators; only they are hardly reported, if at all. Igboeroteonwu (2008)

highlighted that generator fumes kill scores of people in Africa's most populous country of

140 million every year.

Therefore this paper aims at investigating the impact and effect of the increased use of

generators in homes and businesses, to its users and the built environment. This would be

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examined through studying the impact this high use of generators would have on the income

and health of the users and its impact on buildings around where it is been used.

2.0 NIGERIA’S POWER CRISIS

Nigeria's public power company, Power Holding Company of Nigeria has an installed

generating capacity of about 6GW but actual available output is less than 3.5GW. Therefore

power black-out is frequent. Presently, according to the Electric Power Sector Report 2008

which was submitted to the Nigerian president Umaru Musa Yar Adua in May 2008, power

generation is mainly from thermal plants (about 61%) while hydro power generation is about

31% (see table 1.1 & see fig. 1.1). Most of the generating assets in the public power sector

are old, between 18 and 43 years. Lack of timely routine maintenance had caused significant

deterioration in plant output and is a key explanatory factor in the lingering electric power

crisis. The report highlighted that more than two decades of poor planning and

underinvestment had left a huge supply deficit. There was no new infrastructure in over a

decade despite rapid population growth and rising demand for power. The Sector was at the

brink of collapse; average daily generation in 1999 was 1,750MW (and almost 10 years after,

the situation is not remarkably different as available capacity output is still less than 2.5GW).

Add this to the fact that between 1990 and 1998, no new capacity was added. The focus has

been on rehabilitation of existing infrastructure.

As a result of all these reasons, power supply from PHCN to residences, factories and

businesses has been erratic. This has forced a lot of citizens to go for power alternatives such

as solar power and mostly portable power generators etc.

Two set of public sector action-steps emerged in response to the power crisis; there is the

period of infrastructure Rehabilitation (1999-2004) and Infrastructure Expansion (2004 to

Date) - a major part of which is being implemented under the National Integrated Power

Project (NIPP) (Transition Phase). The other is the focus on implementing a comprehensive

sector reform (Restructuring; Deregulation and Privatization) within the framework of the

Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005. The Act is expected to facilitate an Electricity

Supply Industry (ESI) that is driven by the private sector. In line with this, a new direction is

the emergence of IPPs. Oil companies are also into independent power production. An

increasing number of State Governments are now encouraged to set up gas-fired power plants

and the federal Government has promised to assist such move. Also, some State

Governments are planning to buy into distribution companies when these are on offer or set-

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up independent power generating companies in collaboration with some foreign government

companies.

Table 1.1 Showing the capacities of the power generating stations in Nigeria as at October

2008.

NO POWER GENERATING STATIONS

INSTALLED OUTPUT(MEGA WATTS)

ACTUAL OUTPUT(MEGA WATTS)

CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL GRID (%)

1 Egbin Power Station 1,320 600 18

2 Delta Power Station 918 580 173 Sapele Power Station 1,020 150 54 Afam Power Station 972 410 125 Kainji Power Station 760 450 136 Shiroro Power Station 600 600 187 Jebba Power Station 578.4 578.4 17 TOTAL

6168.4 3368.4 100

(Source: Ugeh P. 2008.)

Fig 1.1 Showing the contributions of each power generating stations in Nigeria as at 2008.

(Source: Ugeh P. 2008)

3.0 GENERATORS AS A POPULAR POWER ALTERNATIVE IN NIGERIA

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A generator is any machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy (Encarta,

2007). Most electricity generators make use of mechanical energy gotten from the burning of

fossil fuel which is tend converted into electrical energy.

Electric generators are fast becoming a necessity in Nigeria. This is due to the increasing

unreliability of public power supply. Most Nigerians now have to rely on electric generators

to power their homes or businesses. The electricity generators, which are on sale in Nigeria,

comes in various sizes and are mainly imported from Japan, China, South Korea, Dubai,

Britain and Taiwan. This is aside from the quantity smuggled into the country. Popular

generator brands for low power electric generator sets in the country include Tiger, Hyundia,

Elemax, Honda etc, while Popular brands for medium/large power electric generator sets are

Perkins, Cummins, Deere, Mikano etc.

Oguotobo (2007), reveals that no less than 110 million generating sets of different kinds and

sizes in the country as all firms and residential apartments operate with generators, some part

of the time, a few all of the time. This figure and cost may triple in the next one year as the

life span of most of the generators is very low, coupled with the fact that there are no easy

access to genuine parts for their servicing and maintenance. For example in Lagos, the

country's economic nerve centre, every skyscraper has several standby generators.

4.0 THE IMPACT OF THE HIGH USE OF GENERATORS IN NIGERIA

The impact of the high use of portable power generators in Nigeria can be classified into

three (3) as follows;

(a) Impact on the income.

(b) Impact on the health.

(c) Impact on buildings and the environment.

4.1 THE IMPACT ON THE INCOME OF USERS

Buildings that require stable power supply would have to resolve into using electric

generators, which is a popular power alternative in the country. These generators have power

ratings ranging from 650VA to 250KVA and cost also ranges within N7, 000 to N5, 500,000

(see table 2.1). Below is a list of the power ratings of electric generator sets available in

Nigeria with their average prices. Although these prices may vary depending on the location

of the country it is been bought from.

Table 2.1 Showing the market prices of the various range of electric generators in Nigeria.

Generator Type Cost Generator Type Cost

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650VA N 7,000 7.2KVA key start N220,000

950VA N 9,500 10KVA N230,000

2.0KVA N24,500 12KVA N250,000

2.2KVA N32,000 20KVA N395,000

2.6KVA key start N75,000 25KVA N700,000

3.3KVA N100,000 30KVA N880,000

4.0KVA N140,000 50KVA N1,100,000

4.7KVA N150,000 100KVA N1,900,000

5.3KVA N155,000 150KVA N2,300,000

6.5KVA N190,000 250KVA N4,500,000

Source: www.naijatechguide.blogspot.com

According to a report, by Omoh Gabriel and Hector Igbihiowubo (2008), Nigerians spend

N16.408 trillion on fuelling generators annually. The breakdown can be seen in the table

below (table 3.1):

Table 3.1 Showing the breakdown of the cost of fuelling generators in Nigeria.

S/N SECTOR COST OF FUELLING( N)

1 Telecommunication Sector N 6.7 trillion

2 Filing Stations N 43.98 billion

3 Factories and industries N 191.08 billion

4 Banks N 11.7 billion

5 Insurance Company N 80 billion

6 Residential N 7.812 trillion

7 Commercial Enterprises N 1.57 trillion

Total N 16,408,760 trillion / $ 140 billion

Source: Omoh G. and Hector I. (2008),

The above data does not include does not include repairs, labour and the impact the

generators have on the environment and health of the citizenry.

The report highlights that the generator use for the residential sector amounts to 300,000,000

litres of petrol/ day and at N70 per litre, it would give about;

N21 billion / day,

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300,000,000 x N70 per litre = N21, 000,000,000

N651 billions / month,

N 21,000,000,000 x 31 days = N651, 000,000,000

N7, 812 trillion / year.

N 651,000,000,000 x 12 months = N7, 812, 000,000,000

It was observed that those who have recourse to use generating sets are mostly urban dwellers

and a few others in the rural areas. All these figures go a long way to say how much

Nigerians spend on buying, fuelling and maintaining electric generators in the country. From

Fig. 2.1 it can be seen that residential buildings have a very large proportion of the spending

in fuelling of generators in the country.

Fig 2.1 Showing the breakdown of the cost fuelling generators in Nigeria. (Source: Omoh

Gabriel and Hector Igbihiowubo (2008)).

From the data gathered it can be deduced that residential buildings spend huge amount of

money yearly to provide power supply to their homes and premises. Amounts ranging from

N7, 500 – N4, 500,000 is been spent on buying generators by households. This to a large

extend affect their income level. Houses that require stable power supply would have to make

available a significant part of their income to fuelling, repairs and maintenance of generators.

Houses that cannot afford this would have to live in perpetual darkness when power supply

from PHCN is been interrupted.

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Therefore, if the problems in Nigerian’s power sector is been resolved and stable power

supply is restored, most of the monies spent on buying, fuelling, repairing and maintaining

generators would be directed into other useful ventures that would help to develop the

country.

4.2 THE IMPACT ON THE HEALTH USERS

The exhaust from generators is a major source of pollution. Despite improvements in

emissions control systems found in new generators, air pollution from generators still remain

a public health problem due to the increased number of its usage in our homes, businesses

and offices. The toxic gases emitted from these generators when inhaled by humans can

cause a number of serious health problems to the lungs and the heart. Children, elderly

people, and people with heart and lung diseases are potentially the most at risk from the

problem.

According to American’s EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the emissions from

generators can be classified into three namely;

1. Ground level ozone.

2. Fine particles.

3. Air toxics.

1. Ground Level Ozone

When pollution from your vehicle or generator combines in the presence of heat and sunlight,

ground level ozone commonly known as smog is created. Studies have linked smog exposure

to lung damage.

2. Fine Particles

Fine Particles result from the incomplete combustion of fuel and pose a serious health risk

since they can be inhaled deeply into the lungs. Scientific research has linked fine particles to

respiratory and cardiac health effects, and even to premature death.

3. Air Toxics

In addition to contributing to smog and particulate pollution, your vehicle and generator also

produces pollutants called air toxics. The EPA estimates that 30 - 60% of air toxics in major

cities come from vehicle and generator are thought so increase the risk of cancer.

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4.3 THE IMPACT ON THE BUILDING

The impact of the use of the high use of generators in buildings can be viewed from two (2)

perspectives, namely;

(1) Causes vibrations in buildings.

(2) Leads to fire outbreak, when not properly maintained.

A. Vibrations in Buildings

Vibration is one of the main factors for fatigue in structures. Produced by different sources

vibrations propagate from one medium to another. In this case, the vibrations discussed are

generated by the generators used within and around buildings. In physics, sound or ground-

level vibrations are measured in Hertz (Hz). According to a research by Osama Hunaidi

(2000), generators tend to produce vibrations with frequencies predominantly in the range

from 5 to 25 Hz (oscillations per second). The amplitude of the vibrations ranges between

0.005 and 2 m/s2 (0.0005 and 0.2 g) measured as acceleration, or 0.05 and 25 mm/s measured

as velocity. The predominant frequencies and amplitude of the vibration depend on many

factors including the condition of the generator; generator weight, speed and suspension

system; soil type and stratification; season of the year; distance from the house; and type of

building. The effects of these factors are interdependent and it is difficult to specify simple

relationships between them.

House owners may not be aware about the damages induced by generator vibrations, this

could include; cracks in walls and ceilings, separation of masonry blocks, and cracks in the

foundation. However, vibration levels are rarely high enough to be the direct cause of this

damage, though they could contribute to the process of deterioration from other causes.

Building components usually have residual strains as a result of uneven soil movement,

moisture and temperature cycles, poor maintenance or past renovations and repairs. Therefore

small vibration levels induced by generators could trigger damage by "topping up" residual

strains. Consequently it is difficult to establish a vibration level that may cause building

damage and, therefore, controversy continues to surround the issue. In some cases, when a

building is subjected to vibration for many years, fatigue damage (i.e., that caused by

repeated loading) may occur if the induced stresses in the building are high enough

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Table 4.1 Showing the Effects of Vibration on People and Buildings according to Transport

and Road Research Laboratory (U.K.).

Vibration levels in buildings(Hz)

Type or level of damage caused

10 -15

Would cause "architectural" and possibly minorstructural damage.Continuous vibrationsare unpleasant andunacceptable

5Threshold for risk of "architectural" damage inhouses with plastered walls and ceilingsVibrations annoying topeople in buildings

2.5

Virtually no risk of "architectural" damage tonormal buildingsContinuous exposure tovibrations is annoying

2.0Effects ancient and historical monumentsVibrations perceptible

0.15 - 0.3Unlikely to cause damage of any typeThreshold of perception

0 - 0.15Unlikely to cause damage of any typeImperceptible

Osama Hunaidi (2000)

From the above table (table 4.1), it can be observed that various types of generators tends to

have different vibration levels. And this is dependent on the size of the generator, power

rating, speed and suspension system and etc. Therefore, great care must be taken when

acquiring a new generator system.

B. Incidence of Fire Outbreaks in Buildings

Diesel, fuel and gasoline when stored or use in small generators and kept within homes are

often safety hazards. This is due to its inflammable nature, making generators unsafe for use

sometimes within homes. This risk is high in home where proper provision has been made to

safely house these generators. Although, most homes in Nigeria that make use of generators,

do not have a safe and ideal place to keep their generators when they are in use. Therefore

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these generators are kept carelessly around or even within the building, thereby increasing the

risk of fire outbreaks. Undocumented incidences of fire outbreaks caused by the use of

generators happen almost every week around the country.

In a report by Anamesere Igboeroteonwu (2008), in Umuahia, At least 17 people died at a

prayer meeting in Umuahia after apparently breathing noxious fumes from their power

generator while asleep. The victims fell asleep in a locked room with the generator still

running so the police after their reported that the victims were suffocation through carbon

monoxide inhalation emitted from the running generator. In another incidence by Kayode

Aponmale (2008), electricity generator smoke has killed a man, identified as Austine Mordi

(2008), and his 10-year-old son, Daniel, in Agric area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

The man's wife and daughter were also affected and have been hospitalised. The family of

four inhaled the fume from their generator while sleeping in their home in Lagos, Nigeria.

Incidences of this nature are very rampard now across the country with the increased use of

these electric generators. Something needs to be done by the government to reduce the effects

of this high use of generators, or else it might become a very serious issue.

6.0 POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE HIGH USE OF GENERATORS

Having noted some of the problems associated with the increased use of power generators in

the country, some possible solutions have been drawn out in a bit to control the use of

generators in most of our buildings. Some of these solutions are;

(1) The use of alternative power sources such as, solar power, wind energy, etc.

(2) The complete overhauling of the country’s power sector by government for better

efficiency.

(3) Enactment of policies banning the use of generators in certain areas of the country.

(4) Generators, when in use, should be frequently maintained. This helps to reduce its CO

emission by about 80%.

(5) Generators should be placed away from buildings, when in use. Specially constructed

shed or compartments should be made to shield the generators from sunlight, rainfall

and other elements. This would help to reduce the risk of fire outbreak and choking

smell being experienced from generators.

(6) Vibration levels of generators should be known (when house owner or tenants intend

buying a generator), so as to acquire generators that have low vibration levels that

would not be harmful to users of these generators and the environment at large.

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7.0 CONCLUSION

From the findings, it can be deduced that the use of generators as a power alternative in

buildings is not economically viable; it is not environmentally friendly and has a high health

risk to users. It can be harmful to buildings and its occupants due to the gases emitted and

also its susceptibility to fire outbreak.

It is important to note that power is the engine that drives industrialization, which improves

communication, helps innovation in science and technology, provides sound healthcare

delivery system and improves citizens’ standard of living. Considering the central and pivotal

role electricity plays in an economy, a country cannot fully develop if it does not have an

efficient power generating and supply system.

For Nigerian to fully resolve the problem of power, a sound energy policy should be

introduced by the government. This should not only be restricted to electricity production

from fossil fuel (oil and gas), but from other sources such as; Biomass, Geothermal, Hydro

power, Nuclear (fission and fusion), ocean waves, solar, wind, and other pollution free

renewable sources. These and other energy sources when employed would help reduce the

need for people to use generators in Nigeria.

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REFERENCES

(1) Anamesere Igboeroteonwu (2008) Generator fumes kill 17 at Nigeria prayer meeting.

(www.reuters.com). Accessed on 06:16 pm July 16th, 2008.

(2) Eboh Peter, (2008) Nigerians’ worsening power crisis. Sun Newspaper, Nigeria March

14th, 2008.

(3) Electric Power Sector Report 2008, submitted to the president of the Federal Republic of

Nigeria in May, 2008.

(4) National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), quarterly report for 2008.

(5) Nigeria: Energy Information Administration report 2007 (www.eia.doe.gov). Accessed

on 01:56 pm, Tuesday 11th November 2008.

(6) Ogbuotobo, C. (2007) Nigerians Spend over N1tr on Generators. The Stock Market

Journal, Nigeria, March 27th, 2007.

(7) Osama Hunaidi (2000), ‘Vibrations in Buildings’; A paper presented to the Institute for

Research in Construction, page 3 (http.www.nrc.cnrc.gc.ca). Accessed on 06:16 pm,

Thursday 04th December, 2008.

(8) Segun James. (2008) Generator fumes claims 10 lives. Nigerian Tribune, June 17th,

2008.

(9) The Encarta dictionary, (2007). Microsoft Corporation, 2006.

(10) Ugeh, P. (2008) Nigeria: Blackout to Worsen as Power Generation Drops. This Day

Newspaper, Nigeria, February 11th, 2008.

(11) Umoh, G. & Igbikiowubo H. (2008) Nigerians Spend N16.408 trillion on fuelling

generators. Vanguard Newspaper, Nigeria January 28th, 2008.

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