In this interaction, Bayelsa-born Yenami David tells Nigeria Everyday how his company, UTMC has been able to produce low-cost electric power though it was roundly frustrated by federal government officials who made it a point to ignore clear instructions from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He also speaks on how his company’s technologies can contribute 1,000MW of electricity to the national grid.
Brief Introduction
▪My name is Yenami David. I am the Managing Director of UTMC – Nigeria. We are a research and development company with special interest in power generation.
▪ The motivation
It is apparent that whatever can upgrade Nigeria to a whole new level must have abundant low-cost electric energy at its core. Low-cost electric energy provision offers the greatest payoff when compared to other aspects of economic and social recovery. It is a commodity whose ripple effects will positively and significantly impact all sectors of human development in Nigeria. The dynamics of Nigeria’s energy problems are peculiar to its environment and habits, therefore creating a technology from within will directly cut-off several third and fourth party factors that have mystified electricity business.
▪ What exactly is on the table
We have created, developed and patented three (3) low-cost power generation technologies that will change the equation of energy dynamics in Nigeria. Our technologies will bring safe, affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply to the doorstep of every Nigerian in record time. As a matter of fact, we offer enormous possibilities and opportunities.
Amongst our power generation technologies is one that converts ordinary slow moving river water into low cost electricity. It does not require a dam or a head to produce electricity. It is renewable and does not deplete the earth’s resources. It is also environmentally friendly. This technology alone, can harvest up to one thousand megawatts (1000MW) of deliverable off-grid electric energy from the vast inland River courses of north central and southern Nigeria. Each power generation unit is a device with generation capacity of between three kilowatts (3KW) to two hundred and fifty kilowatts (250 KW), depending on the nature of the energy source on ground.
Interaction with the Federal Govt
▪ In the month of June 2016, UTMC – Nigeria wrote to the office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, informing him of the breakthroughs of our power generation technologies and the possibility of using them as tools to foster industrial growth, massive job creation and security.
Also in June 2016, the office of the Vice President called us to request for the requirement for the construction of a pilot plant to enable it write a recommendation to the relevant ministry that will fund the pilot plant, which we provided.
In July 2016, Office of the Vice President directed the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to look into the subject matter. This instruction included the financial and technical details required to construct a pilot plant.
Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonaya Onu, (2nd Left) and Mr. Yenami David on the occasion of the presentation of three (3) patent certificates on power generation. The occasion was held in Abuja in 2018.
A ministerial committee was set up by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to look into our capability. The ministerial committee is made up of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Energy Commission of Nigeria –ECN, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion –NOTAP, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure –NASENI and Project Development Institute – PRODA.
On Thursday 4th August 2016, UTMC – Nigeria was invited by Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to make a presentation before the ministerial committee on the feasibility and workability of our technologies.
The presentation was duly delivered. There was general approval and a resolution was reached which states that “our power generation technologies are workable, doable and should be funded by Government.
▪ Our frustration
After the resolution was reached, elements within the system did everything in its power to discourage and frustrate the idea of funding a pilot plant. Series of unethical demands were made. We do not need to go into the details as it is unnecessary for the journey we, as a company, are making. We do not intend to look back or be bogged down by these behavioural patterns that have often stunted our growth and development as a nation. This paid off, at least, for a while.
▪ Next step
We (UTMC – Nigeria) had to unilaterally commence construction in Abuja. When the construction got to the point where it could generate electricity for demonstration purpose, the ministerial committee was invited to witness the generation of electricity.
This construction and temporary display of the practical workability of our power generation plant in Abuja gave birth to a recommendation by the Ministerial Committee. On Thursday 18th October 2017, an approval was issued by Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to UTMC – Nigeria to construct and deploy our technology at the in-land waterways of the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue in Lokoja, Kogi State, for installation and transmission in order to supply the nearest community with electricity.
Video of work in Lokoja, Kogi State:
Again, on Thursday 18th October 2017, a letter introducing our technology and intention to construct a pilot plant was issued by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
▪ Funding constraints
Following the refusal of Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and the ministerial committee to honour the directive of the “Vice President of the Federal Republic” to fund the construction of the pilot plant, on July 2019, UTMC – Nigeria painstakingly and singlehandedly through my personal savings and other private funds embarked on the construction and deployment of our power generation plant to site. The project is currently completed and has started producing low cost electricity.
Mock version of project with Electricity output from demonstration
and electricity generation output, in Abuja plant.
for demonstration purpose.
The first output from the “Extra Low Cost Power Generation Plant”.
It is sad, but the frustrations from the non-funding despite the clear directives of the Vice President, and some elements making themselves the biggest obstacle along this part of producing low cost electricity to Nigerians, we are where we are.
▪ Our prayers
*We want the Federal Government of Nigeria to supervise the creation of a presidential initiative where electricity will be subsidised to industries and manufacturers all over the country, with the aim of fostering industrial growth, massive job creation and security.
*We want the presidential initiative to be expanded to include all relevant stakeholders including state governments.
*We want investments that will come in the form of equity, loan or grant. This will enable us to accelerate electricity generation and supply that will serve a significant percentage of the electricity market in record time. We want the Federal Government to play its role in line with its “Ease of Doing Business Reform” to enable us access all relevant windows of opportunities.
