Electricity in Nigeria in 2023/2024

Between September 2023 and August 2024, Nigeria has seen a considerable reliance on fossil fuels for its electricity consumption. Fossil energy, including both conventional fossil fuels and gas, generated just over 24 TWh each, resulting in a combined total of approximately 49 TWh. On the other hand, low-carbon energy, specifically hydropower, produced only around 8 TWh. This means that more than three-quarters of Nigeria's electricity comes from fossil fuels, which significantly contributes to climate change and air pollution. When comparing these figures to the global average of 3606 watts per person, Nigeria's low level of electricity generation can result in limited industrial productivity, insufficient power for residential areas, and hampered economic development.

Suggestions

Increasing Nigeria's low-carbon electricity generation can be achieved by drawing lessons from other countries that have successfully implemented green energy solutions. For instance, China has heavily invested in wind and solar power, generating 950 TWh from wind and 653 TWh from solar. Similarly, the United States has notable achievements in nuclear and wind power, with outputs of 790 TWh and 444 TWh, respectively. India, with its substantial solar power generation of 125 TWh and wind energy production of 92 TWh, demonstrates that countries with similar economic conditions can substantially increase their clean energy mix. By investing in solar and wind farms, as well as exploring nuclear energy options, Nigeria could dramatically increase its low-carbon electricity output.

History

Historically, Nigeria's journey with low-carbon electricity has been quite varied, with hydropower being the sole contributor. In the early 1980s, there were slight declines in hydropower generation, such as a drop of 0.4 TWh in 1981 and another decrease of 0.5 TWh in 1983. However, the late 1980s saw positive increments, with a noticeable rise of 1.5 TWh in 1991. Despite some setbacks like a decrease of 0.8 TWh in 2003 and a significant drop of 1.5 TWh in 2006, the mid-2010s showed promising increases, especially a rise of 1.7 TWh in 2016. Recent trends, however, display a mix of small gains and losses. To solidify its low-carbon strategy, Nigeria needs consistent policies and investments aimed at stabilizing and increasing clean energy generation.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources