From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
A leading transformer repairer in Kaduna, Prince Ade Adeniji, has advised the Nigerian government, electricity distribution companies, and communities that regular maintenance of electricity transformers will make them serve better and longer thereby boosting the local economy.
This became necessary as several communities in Nigeria have suffered while others are suffering electricity blackouts due to faulty transformers and the ‘cold’ attitude of electricity companies to fix them in good time.
‘Oga Ade’, a household name in Kaduna, an indigene of Shagamu, specifically from Adeniji Adepitan Royal Dynasty, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria, has been in the business of repairing all manners of transformers and generating sets in Kaduna for over three decades.
Speaking to Daily Sun in his workshop located at the popular Television Garage, Kaduna, Kaduna South local government area of the state, the 55-year-old trained electrical ‘recoilers’ believed there is no management in electricity in order if lives and property are to be saved and as well protect equipment for optimum performance.
His clients include but are not limited to Kaduna State Water Board now Kaduna State Water Corporation, NEPA which is now Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company among others, “you can go to NEPA and ask who is Ade and they will tell you more about me”, he boasted.
He added that he has lost count of the number of transformers he has repaired over time; “from 50 KVA down to 7.5 NVA. When we talk of KVA we are talking of distribution transformers. But when we are talking of NVA, that is a power transformer. The power transformer is the one that feeds the distribution transformer”.
On what causes damage to transformers he said, “sometimes, manufacturers’ errors in the transformer cause damage to the equipment. For instance, we just fixed one which is given us a higher voltage, beating our calculation after confirmation for the KAEDCO that it was okay.
“Another challenge is if moisture goes into the transformer, it is bound to drop. The maintenance culture is not there. You put a transformer in a circuit for five or more years without maintenance. Some transformers are older than me who was born in 1968”, he said.
To avoid blackouts due to faulty transformers, beneficiaries should be conscious of manufacturer recommendations as contained in the instruction manual. But on a general ground, when a transformer is put on a circuit for five years, it should be checked just as we check our vehicles”, he added.
He identified finance and difficulty in getting help as key challenges facing transformer repair business in Nigeria, “I have written to Kaduna State Government through Rural Electrification Board for them to bring children in Technical Schools to learn the practical aspect of the job so our small businesses will not shut down because of the faulty transformer when we have many qualify hands around.
What has been the sweet and bitter experience you have incurred in the course of doing this job?
“One thing that keeps me going was what I was told during my training that “there is no management in electricity”. By the time you won’t manage, you won’t have any problems.
“If they will hear, we need what is called maintenance culture and safety. By the time you put a transformer worth N5 million on the circuit for five years, spend a few thousand to restore it to its old status.
“Unfortunately, they will be waiting till it gets down. By the time that happens, small businesses will be affected. The revenue drive of the electricity companies and that of the government in the affected areas will reduce and households will suffer. If we maintain our machinery and equipment, they will serve us better and longer,” he added.