THE RISING USE OF GENERATORS IN NIGERIA AND

ITS EFFECT ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

BY

ADOKURU CHRISTOPHER AMASOR

M.TECH/2006/SET/1570
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES
FEDERAL 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

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

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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
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

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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-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 INSTALLED ACTUAL CONTRIBUTIO
STATIONS OUTPUT OUTPUT N TO
(MEGA (MEGA NATIONAL
WATTS) WATTS) GRID (%)
1 Egbin Power Station 1,320 600 18
2 Delta Power Station 918 580 17
3 Sapele Power Station 1,020 150 5
4 Afam Power Station 972 410 12
5 Kainji Power Station 760 450 13
6 Shiroro Power Station 600 600 18
7 Jebba Power Station 578.4 578.4 17
TO 6168.4 3368.4 100
TAL
(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,

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

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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.
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

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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.

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

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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

Table 4.1 Showing the Effects of Vibration on People and Buildings according to Transport
and Road Research Laboratory (U.K.).
Vibration levels in Type or level of damage
buildings caused
(Hz)
Would cause "architectural" and
possibly minor
10 -15 structural damage.
Continuous vibrations
are unpleasant and
unacceptable

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 Threshold for risk of
5 "architectural" damage in
houses with plastered walls and
ceilings
Vibrations annoying to
people in buildings
Virtually no risk of "architectural"
damage to
2.5 normal buildings
Continuous exposure to
vibrations is annoying
Effects ancient and historical
2.0 monuments
Vibrations perceptible
Unlikely to cause damage of any
0.15 - 0.3 type
Threshold of perception
Unlikely to cause damage of any
0 - 0.15 type
Imperceptible
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
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

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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.
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

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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.

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.

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(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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