That ban on small generator imports

The Federal government’s recent ban on the importation of small generators, popularly known as “I better pass my neighbor,” has drawn mixed reactions from various stakeholders. Government says the ban is necessary because these small generators pollute the air and damage people’s health. They are not the lone culprits here, since   diesel engine vehicles, poorly […]

The Federal government’s recent ban on the importation of small generators, popularly known as “I better pass my neighbor,” has drawn mixed reactions from various stakeholders. Government says the ban is necessary because these small generators pollute the air and damage people’s health. They are not the lone culprits here, since   diesel engine vehicles, poorly maintained petrol engine vehicles as well as large diesel generators all pose risks to human health through the fumes they emit. Records reveal more than 10,000 Nigerians have died from poisonous fumes since the onset of these generators. The small generators in particular, which are used in large numbers in small spaces and even dragged into homes have quite often wiped out entire families.
The main criticism of this ban is that government banned poor folks’ main power source without providing a ready alternative.               They argue that government should have ensured steady power supply or at least a marked improvement in power supply before placing the ban. It is true that millions of low income household use this type of generators, which are also the live wire of small businesses such as restaurants, barbing salons, small offices, corner shops, those who charge cell phones for a fee, as well as student hostels  and millions of families. Practically every small scale business uses this type of generator in the absence of steady public power supply. The situation is the same in rural areas where people rely on these small generators for farming, domestic and small business activity.
While the ban does not affect importation of larger generators, low income people cannot afford those ones. Small businesses in cities and towns can however get round this problem by combining together to install larger generators for their collective use. This will be cheaper and healthier for everyone as it will greatly reduce air and noise pollution that obtains in our markets today where everyone installs his or her own small generators. All it needs is cooperation among many operators.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other business owners say that this ban will increase unemployment in the country. They say the local manufacture of quality small generators is unlikely as our economy is not conducive for investment in such a large scale industry. The best we can hope for now, they say, is an assembly plant for completely knocked down (CKD) versions of small generators. However, the ban will in the medium term mean more work for repairers of generators where new ones are not available.
The feeling that the wealthy have been let off the hook with their large diesel generators while the poor have been asked to go without light needs to be addressed. Authorities have stated that the law was not backdated and all generators imported before it came into effect are legal. The ban is not a prohibition and the remaining stocks are free to be sold off. Customs officials affirm that the ban is in effect only as “prohibition by trade” and only large quantities of imported generators will be seized, not piece meal imports. 
In supporting the ban, engineers say we should keep out petrol engines which require engine oil to be mixed with petrol. It is the burning oil which causes the excessive fumes. There are small scale generators in which the petrol and engine oil are not mixed but they are only slightly more expensive. These have not been banned.
While we support this measure for its health and anti-pollution benefits, this should only be a part of a well-articulated environmental policy. For example, government should be just as concerned with enforcing the ban on gas flaring which is far more hazardous to the environment and the ozone layer. One of the most valid criticisms of this ban on small generators was that it was not preceded by a public enlightenment campaign. Given the pervasive use of small generators in this country, citizens deserved to be told well in advance of government’s plan to ban their imports. Then also, we expect to see real progress in power supply as soon as possible.