Nigeria’s failure to harness its abundant sunlight for power generation is believed to stem from a combination of factors, including a lack of adequate infrastructure, insufficient funding for research and development, and a lack of political will to implement solar initiatives.
On Monday, Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos state, said his electricity bill inexplicably skyrocketed from N2.7 million in March to N29 million in April, adding that the electricity distribution company (DisCo) also frustrated his efforts to utilise the prepaid meter he procured.
On 17th February 2025, the Senate Committee on Power held a meeting with representatives of South Korea’s BK Energy to discuss Nigeria’s persistent national grid collapse and unstable power supply.
During the meeting, the lawmakers explored alternative energy solutions, including the use of coconut, to resolve the country’s electricity challenges. Chairperson of the committee, Enyinnaya Abaribe, told the Koreans that the major cause of the recurring power failure in the country was outdated and inadequate infrastructure.
Mr Abaribe, who represents Abia South Senatorial District, stressed the urgent need for a robust and modern power transmission network and an increase in the country’s electricity generation, which is about 4,000 megawatts.
While the outcome of this meeting is still being awaited, Punch reports that the Lagos State deputy governor, who expressed distress over his enormous electricity bill in a month, spoke on Monday during a roundtable discussion between the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Lagos state government in Victoria Island.
Hamzat and the DisCos were billed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the electrification of rural communities in Lagos. He represented Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, at the event.
“People that are trying to survive, and the common denominator for them is power. They don’t have power. There are billing challenges. In fact I’m a very good example,” he said.
“Last month, in my house, or the state house that I live in, the bill was N2.7 million last month. This month, Eko DisCo sent us a bill of N29 million.
“I sent it to the commissioner for energy. It’s crazy. I actually procured a meter. I bought a meter to say, ‘Look, don’t give estimated billing.’ I bought the meter, but to convert it is wahala.”
He narrated how a consumer in the Coker Aguda area of Surulere was charged N2.8 million when his house rent is N2 million per annum.
“There’s a place called Coker Aguda in Surulere, and people came to me, and I was asking them to calm down. A man’s rent in a year is about N2 million; they gave him a bill of N2.8 million for electricity,” he said.
“How can the bill be more than the man’s rent for a year? Those are the challenges that we have.
“Our people are suffering because of estimated billing.”
Hamzat commended Biodun Ogunleye, commissioner for energy, for facilitating a solar power deal with the REA.
In his remarks, Ogunleye said Lagos has entered a partnership with REA to unlock new opportunities.
“Opportunities for those who never thought in their lifetime they would experience or live within an environment where there will be constant and stable supply of electricity,” he said.
“I am delighted that I know that REA has been to a number of other states, but when you are not in Lagos, you’re not yet there.”
Although the Electricity Act 2023 empowers states in Nigeria to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity within their borders, this has not happened despite the abundance of natural resources like coal and more.
The failure of governors to take advantage of the Electricity Act 2023 instead of lamentations has made states continue struggling with epileptic power supply.
