Over the past year, from May 2025 to April 2026, Nigeria's electricity consumption highlights a pressing dependency on fossil fuels. During this period, more than half of the electricity, precisely 22.25 TWh, came from fossil energy sources, specifically gas. In contrast, low-carbon sources, entirely hydropower, contributed just over 12 TWh to the electricity mix. When compared to the global average of 3794 kWh/person, Nigeria's consumption is considerably lower, at only 145 kWh/person. This disparity indicates potential negative effects such as constrained economic growth, education limitations, and reduced healthcare capabilities, all of which are exacerbated by the reliance on fossil fuels and its associated environmental implications like climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Nigeria?

Assessing the trend of electricity growth in Nigeria reveals a concerning picture. The latest numbers in 2026 show a per capita electricity consumption of 145 kWh, which represents a drop of 42 kWh/person compared to the previous record high in 2023, where consumption was 187 kWh/person. Specifically, low-carbon electricity generation is at 51 kWh/person, a decline from its record of 62 kWh/person in 2002. These decreases highlight a worrying trend in Nigeria's efforts to not only improve electricity access but also to progress towards cleaner, sustainable electricity options, underscoring a need for renewed policy focus and investment to reverse these declines.

Suggestions

To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Nigeria can draw lessons from regions that have aggressively expanded their clean energy portfolio, particularly in solar and nuclear power. China, for example, has leveraged its vast solar potential to generate 1266 TWh, indicating the significant promise solar energy holds. Meanwhile, the impressive nuclear achievements of countries like the United States, with 792 TWh of nuclear electricity, exemplify the scalability and reliability of nuclear energy. By focusing on these two clean energy sources, Nigeria can make significant strides in reducing its fossil fuel dependency and, more importantly, ensure that its future electricity needs are met sustainably. Increased investment in both solar and nuclear infrastructure would pave the way for a more resilient, diversified energy mix in Nigeria.

History

Reflecting on Nigeria's historical progress in low-carbon electricity, hydropower has seen a series of fluctuations over the decades. Initial efforts in the 1980s saw modest developments with slight increases, but the path since then has been sporadic. The early 2000s experienced both rises and declines, highlighting instability in harnessing hydropower effectively. Significant positive shifts occurred in 2016 and 2019, indicating potential for growth, but these gains were partially offset by consecutive declines post-2018. Most recently, in 2025, there was a commendable increase of 2.3 TWh in hydropower generation, though it was followed by a smaller rise in 2026. To ensure a robust and continuous growth trajectory, Nigeria must stabilize and expand its investment into a diversified green energy mix, prioritizing not only hydropower but also introducing and scaling up solar and nuclear infrastructure for a sustainable energy future.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (May 2025 – Apr 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.