By Maroof Asudemade

There is something remarkably amusing about being an engineer in the 21st century and arriving at the brilliant technological conclusion that streetlights should be powered by diesel generators.

Governor Seyi Makinde, an engineer by training and profession, has apparently looked at the possibilities offered by solar energy and other renewable technologies and decided that the best way to illuminate Oyo’s streets is to keep the generators running. Welcome to the future – GSM style!

To be fair, the state government has explained that diesel generation was introduced as an interim arrangement while the broader power solution for the Light Up Oyo project was being developed. But the interim arrangement appears to have turned permanent as there’s no broader power solution in sight while Makinde’s tenure is winding to a close. But even the interim solution raised questions about the quality of the original thinking that went into the project.

In an age when solar-powered streetlights are being deployed across cities and communities, why does Oyo’s flagship street-lighting project need diesel generators to keep the lights on? Perhaps this is Governor Makinde’s engineering innovation: solar is too modern, electricity is too conventional, so let us go back to diesel.

One can almost imagine the design meeting: “Engineer, how do we power the streetlights?”

“Generator.”

“Solar?”

“Generator.”

“Renewable energy?”

“Generator.”

“Battery storage?”

“Please bring more diesel. Let the generators continue to emit smokes. Our environment needs more pollution. And boys must get big bucks from generator and diesel supplies,” roared Engineer SM.

The irony is even more amusing because the administration has consistently presented its infrastructure projects as evidence of modern governance and forward-thinking development. But what exactly is forward-thinking about using diesel generators to power streetlights?

Nobody disputes the importance of streetlighting. Properly illuminated roads can improve visibility, support commercial activity and contribute to public safety. The question is whether a government led by an engineer should not be expected to demonstrate more ingenuity in the way those lights are powered.

Perhaps the real innovation is not Light Up Oyo, but ‘Light Up Oyo provided there is diesel’. And so, while the rest of the world moves increasingly towards renewable energy, Oyo has apparently decided to preserve one important tradition: the faithful Nigerian generator.

At least there is one thing we can say with certainty: whatever happens to the lights, the generator will always be there, faithfully consuming diesel and reminding us that sometimes, the road to the future passes through the past.