An expert in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, Dr. Elvin Eziama, has urged the federal government to invest heavily in technology, warning against the consequences of neglecting a properly funded energy sector.
The repercussions of neglecting proper energy and utility management extend beyond immediate power shortages to long-term economic instability, diminished property values, and severe health hazards. Despite the daunting challenges posed by an underdeveloped energy sector, technological advancements offer a glimmer of hope.
This article elucidates how the integration of 6G networks, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced cybersecurity measures can transform energy and utility management in Nigeria, showcasing the potential of these technologies to mitigate energy inefficiencies and foster national development.
Dr. Eziama, who is at the forefront of advancements in AI, cybersecurity, IoT, and 6G network research, highlights the transformative impact of these technologies on the energy sector.
By leveraging the latest in AI and 6G, combined with robust cybersecurity frameworks, Dr. Eziama presents practical and technical solutions to address the multifaceted challenges faced by Nigeria’s energy and utility sectors.
Nigeria’s energy and utility sectors face several critical problems that impede their efficiency and reliability. Despite being rich in natural resources, the country struggles with providing stable electricity and clean water to its population. The following outlines the key challenges and Dr. Eziama’s proposed solutions:
Frequent grid collapses exacerbate the challenge, with Nigeria’s power grid collapsing three times in 2023 and eight times in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency.
Gas supply constraints, ageing infrastructure, and ineffective communication and coordination contribute to these collapses, underscoring the urgency of addressing these issues. Additionally, electricity theft is a pervasive problem in Nigeria, exacerbating the already strained power supply.
Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) lose about ₦30 billion every month due to electricity theft.
The deployment of smart grid (SG) technology, with its inherent smart metering, is proposed as a solution to this issue. Despite the provision of smart metering as an alternative measure, it is still subject to manipulation, affecting the power grid and resulting in a loss of the nation’s wealth.
Dr. Eziama equally emphasised that poor infrastructure monitoring and maintenance have been significant challenges. He equally stressed that traditional monitoring methods are limited in their reach and often fail to provide real-time data, making it difficult to identify and address infrastructure issues promptly.
Dr. Eziama advocates for the deployment of AI-powered sensors and drones equipped with 6G connectivity. These technologies can conduct continuous monitoring, capturing real-time data on infrastructure conditions. Implementing this technology can improve the monitoring of power lines, water pipes, and other critical infrastructure, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
In terms of ineffective communication and coordination that hamper utility providers, particularly in remote regions, Dr. Eziama proposed that adopting 6G networks ensures seamless, high-speed communication between different utility units, enabling better coordination and faster response times during emergencies. With 6G’s ultra-low latency of less than 1 millisecond, real-time data sharing and strategic planning become more efficient.
Addressing gas supply constraints, electricity theft, smart metre manipulation, and ensuring regular maintenance of the grid infrastructure can significantly enhance grid stability. Leveraging AI for predictive analytics can help utility providers predict infrastructure failures, allowing for preemptive maintenance and resource allocation.
This can reduce the number of unexpected infrastructure failures by up to 40%. Dr. Eziama emphasises the importance of advanced cybersecurity measures to protect critical assets from cyberattacks. AI-driven cybersecurity systems can detect and respond to threats in real-time, minimising the impact of cyber intrusions and ensuring the security of utility operations.
He advocated the use of homomorphic and differentiable privacy in smart metres and utility providers. By encrypting metre readings and other sensitive information, unauthorised access or tampering attempts can be thwarted, enhancing the overall security of the smart grid infrastructure.
Similarly, differential privacy techniques add noise to data queries or results, thereby protecting the privacy of individual data points while still allowing for meaningful analysis to be conducted. When applied to smart grid systems, differential privacy can help safeguard the privacy of consumers’ energy consumption patterns.
By adding noise to aggregated energy consumption data, individual consumption profiles remain anonymous, reducing the risk of privacy breaches or targeted attacks aimed at identifying vulnerable households.
Despite the provision of smart metering as an alternative measure, it is still subject to manipulation, affecting the power grid and resulting in a loss of the nation’s wealth. To address this challenge, AI and 6G technologies, coupled with robust cybersecurity measures, can play a crucial role.
By integrating AI algorithms into smart metering systems, anomalies and potential tampering can be detected in real-time, allowing for immediate response and mitigation. Additionally, leveraging 6G networks enhances data transmission speeds and reliability, ensuring seamless communication between smart metres and utility providers.
Furthermore, advanced cybersecurity measures, powered by AI, can detect and thwart attempts at unauthorised access or manipulation of smart metering systems, safeguarding the integrity of the power grid and reducing financial losses due to electricity theft.
In conclusion, the integration of 6G networks, AI, and cybersecurity presents a powerful toolkit for revolutionising the energy and utility sectors in Nigeria.
These technologies can enhance infrastructure monitoring, improve coordination, provide predictive insights, and secure critical assets. By leveraging these advancements, Nigeria can develop more effective strategies to address energy inefficiencies and foster national development.
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