Regular power is not guaranteed .NEPA (the Nigerian power company) is frequently spoken of in less than respectful terms. Being the richest country on the continent does not mean that adequate infrastructures exist to provide a basic like regular electricity that is taken for granted at home. Sure, we have our flashlights, candles and lamps ready in the event a hurricane blows through and there are the occasional brown-outs during the more intense months of summer, but here almost every home and business of moderate size has a generator for when the power fails.
The regularity of this failure varies—8-10 times a day, all day, night, week (you choose). Even when we were on Victoria Island in Lagos, one of the more recent developments in the country, and in the Federal Capital of Abuja, there are power disruptions. Can you imagine the frustration of not having a functioning laptop battery under those circumstances? Working on a document (power on! power off!). I was reminded the hard way to save, save, save! Skyping with my family; FB; Twitter; blogging; email- (power on! power off!) You get the picture.
I thought my ancient laptop might get fried in the process, but it has served me well. Trying to find a replacement here either through electronics suppliers or online didn’t work. Aha! I thought. Consultants come this way from various parts of the states on a regular basis. Maybe I could have one ‘pony expressed’ to me. After two attempts, it worked. My son shipped it to one of the people coming over who had kindly consented to bring it for me. (Sending items from the states via mail or FedEx is fairly expensive).
The power just went off again. Though the generator will come on momentarily, I am happily working despite the darkness. Sometimes it’s just the little things…
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