By Faith Jemosop
Why Are Millions of Nigerians Taking Electricity into Their Own Hands?
What happens when the government fails to provide a basic service for decades? In Nigeria, the answer is becoming increasingly clear: people take matters into their own hands. Faced with erratic power supply and grid collapses that feel more like routine than exception, Nigerians are quietly constructing a parallel electricity ecosystem right under everyone’s nose.
They are building mini-grids, installing solar panels, forming energy cooperatives, and investing in diesel and petrol generators, batteries, and inverters. While it might not make headlines like national power deals or oil discoveries, this quiet energy revolution is reshaping Nigeria’s power landscape from the ground up.
But how exactly are they doing it and why has this movement gained so much momentum?
What’s Wrong With Nigeria’s National Power Grid?
To understand the rise of decentralized electricity in Nigeria, we need to unpack the chronic failure of the national power system. Despite having the largest economy in Africa and a population exceeding 220 million, Nigeria generates and distributes only around 4,000 megawatts of electricity on a good day. For comparison, South Africa, with less than a third of Nigeria’s population, generates more than 40,000 MW, even with its own energy crisis.
Grid collapse is a regular occurrence in Nigeria. Between 2010 and 2022, the grid failed over 200 times. These blackouts are not just an inconvenience, they are a serious economic drain. Businesses lose an estimated $29 billion annually due to poor electricity access, according to the World Bank.
So, when the lights go out and stay out Nigerians innovate.
Is Nigeria’s Energy Future Actually in the Hands of Its Citizens?
Surprisingly, yes. In the absence of reliable grid electricity, Nigerians are pioneering their own energy solutions. From Lagos to Kano, Makurdi to Port Harcourt, individuals, communities, and small businesses are installing their own solar panels, microgrids, inverters, and batteries. This growing informal energy sector is filling the gap the government left behind.
In fact, the market for off-grid solar in Nigeria is now one of the largest in Africa. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), over 30% of Nigerian homes now use solar home systems or standalone solutions. This number is even higher in rural areas where the grid has never reached.
In urban areas, middle-class households are increasingly turning to hybrid energy setups combining public grid supply (when available) with solar panels, inverters, and even small wind turbines.
How Do These DIY Electricity Systems Actually Work?
The approaches vary. In remote villages, nonprofit organizations and private companies are helping communities set up solar-powered mini-grids and small-scale electricity systems that can power tens to hundreds of homes. These grids often include solar panels, battery storage, and smart meters to manage usage efficiently.
In cities, it’s more individualized. Households install rooftop solar panels, purchase deep-cycle batteries, and run inverters that convert DC power to usable AC electricity. Diesel generators are still common, but their environmental and economic costs have pushed many toward cleaner alternatives.
Some neighborhoods have gone a step further by forming energy cooperatives. These groups pool resources to buy larger solar systems or mini-grids that serve an entire street or compound, cutting costs while boosting reliability.
What’s Driving This Shift Toward Self-Generated Power?
Three words: cost, reliability, and necessity.
Let’s start with cost. While the upfront cost of installing a solar system may be high, the long-term savings are significant. Diesel prices are volatile and often unaffordable. The grid is too unreliable to justify continued dependence. Solar, while expensive at first, becomes cheaper over time with zero fuel costs and minimal maintenance.
Next is reliability. Businesses can’t afford to shut down every time the power goes out. And in Nigeria, it goes out often. This makes alternative sources of power not just a convenience but a survival strategy.
Finally, there’s a necessity. For many rural Nigerians, the national grid has never arrived and probably never will. For these communities, off-grid power isn’t just a backup; it’s the only option.
Who Are the Key Players Enabling This Grassroots Energy Revolution?
Behind this transformation is a growing ecosystem of innovators, NGOs, and entrepreneurs. Local companies like Lumos, Arnergy, and Rensource provide solar home systems on a pay-as-you-go basis, using mobile money to reach low-income families. International donors, including USAID and the UK’s FCDO, are funding rural electrification projects across northern Nigeria and the Niger Delta.
Also read: How Huawei’s Smart Solar Solutions Are Powering Africa’s Renewable Future
Startups like Havenhill Synergy and Solar Sister are empowering women to become solar entrepreneurs, bringing light to remote communities while generating income.
Meanwhile, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has launched programs like the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), which aims to connect over 2.5 million people through off-grid solar. Despite funding limitations, these initiatives are laying the groundwork for a decentralized future.
Are There Challenges to This Self-Driven Power Movement?
Absolutely. While impressive, the DIY power sector is still fragmented, largely unregulated, and prone to inequality. Wealthier Nigerians can afford premium solar setups with battery backup. Poorer families often remain dependent on candles, kerosene, or noisy generators.
There’s also the issue of quality. Substandard solar products flood the market, causing early system failures and eroding trust. A lack of technical training also means many systems are poorly installed or maintained.
In addition, weak regulatory support has made it difficult for decentralized systems to scale rapidly. Although Nigeria’s electricity law now supports mini-grids and independent power producers, the permitting process remains slow and bureaucratic in many states.
What Could This Mean for Nigeria’s Energy Future?
Despite its flaws, this movement represents a powerful shift: from a centralized, broken system to a more resilient, citizen-led model of electricity generation. If nurtured properly, it could be the key to closing Nigeria’s massive energy access gap.
Imagine a future where every community has its own renewable mini-grid, every business is powered by solar, and national dependence on diesel is eliminated. It’s not a dream it’s already happening, quietly, across Nigeria.
Also read: Zambia Secures $71.5 Million for 100MW Solar Project, Advancing Renewable Energy Drive
Government policies need to catch up with the reality on the ground. By investing in training, certification, quality assurance, and finance for renewable solutions, authorities can empower millions more to join this energy revolution.
So, Why Aren’t We Talking More About This?
Because it’s happening slowly, silently and without the fanfare of big infrastructure projects. But make no mistake: the transformation is real. In a country where power is often equated with politics, it’s everyday Nigerians traders, farmers, teachers, and taxi drivers who are powering the change.
They’re not waiting for government plans, and they’re not giving up. They’re building their own electricity, one solar panel, one battery, one inverter at a time.
Maybe it’s time the rest of the world started paying attention.
