Nigeria is rich in energy resources, both conventional and renewable, which could give the country enough power to meet the needs of both urban and rural Nigerians if all of the country’s homes were wired for electricity. Some examples are solar, gas, hydropower, and oil. Yet Nigeria has one of the lowest consumption rates of electricity per capita in Africa. Since demand is higher than supply, rural areas of the country don’t have equal access to electricity.
According to the World Bank, 43% of Nigerians did not have access to on-grid electricity as of February 2021, and Nigeria loses $26.2 billion per year (the equivalent of two percent of its GDP) due to a lack of reliable electricity. Nigerians have to use small generators powered by fossil fuels or other off-grid sources to make up for the difference between what they need and what they can get. This is very bad for the environment.
Solar-powered generating units could fill in the gaps in Nigeria’s energy needs by diversifying the country’s energy portfolio and making it less dependent on fossil fuels to make electricity. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), solar power generation is becoming cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives, and its generating units can be built faster than traditional power plants. Although the equipment costs for its appliances are higher in comparison with generating sets, the cost is insignificant, especially when compared to the cost of operating the generating sets like power, fuel, and maintenance costs.
Despite the many advantages associated with solar energy, its uses are still low. There are a lot of barriers to solar energy implementation in Nigeria, some of which include technical barriers and social/cultural behavior.
The government can provide ad hoc advisory support on policy and regulations, thereby supporting the environment for off-grid solar in Nigeria. Also, policies can be implemented to raise awareness and offer courses on the subject in educational institutions.