SUSTAINING PRIVATISATION OF ELECTRICITY SERVICE DELIVERY IN NIGERIA: A RESOLUTION BETWEEN ASPATIAL AND SPATIAL PLANNING APPROACH

Abstract

The symbiotic relationship of the concept of Aspatial and spatial planning approach to power reform cannot be underestimated, as it is critical to the sustainable service delivery of electricity to the target population, especially in Nigeria and other developing countries. As problem statement, the planning of service delivery of electricity supply, most often, had always been approached from the aspatial level of planning that is, “mere policy statement”, just as issue of privatization of electricity service delivery in Nigeria, without much relevance to spatial dimensional aspect. This lopsided planning approach to service delivery of public utilities generally and in particular electricity supply has consequently been the raison d’etre for; poor implementation of its laudable privatisation policy, inability to achieve the goals of its well-articulated and full packaged Strategies. The skewed distribution of electrical facilities, ineffective and malfunctioning conditions, overstretching and overloading of available facilities, incessant power failure, general poor electricity service delivery, inter alia, in Nigeria are attributable to non-adherence to spatial planning approach. The study, methodologically drawn from relevant literatures and tertiary sources of data, objectively aimed at stressing the symbiotic importance of spatial planning approach to the sustainability of aspatial planning strategies. Comprehensive planning, adequate available spatial data, involvement of relevant stakeholders, among others were the suggested recommendations, with main focus on privatization approach to service delivery of electricity in Nigeria.