In the period from October 2024 to September 2025, Nigeria's electricity consumption was characterized by reliance predominantly on fossil energy sources. With fossil fuel sources such as gas contributing around 24 TWh, this dominates the energy landscape. However, Nigeria also manages to produce some electricity from low-carbon sources, primarily through hydropower, amounting to almost 10 TWh. This means that low-carbon energy constitutes close to a third of the overall electricity mix. Yet, when compared to the global average electricity consumption of 3649 kWh per person, Nigeria's electricity consumption remains significantly lower. This results in limited economic growth, constrained industrial development, and a challenge in improving living standards for its population.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Nigeria?
Despite the world's increasing focus on clean energy, electricity generation growth in Nigeria appears to be stalling. The latest figures indicate that electricity consumption per person in Nigeria fell from a record 187 kWh/person in 2023 to 143 kWh/person in 2025. This demonstrates a decline of about 43 kWh/person. Similarly, the low-carbon electricity generation is a concern, as it has decreased from a peak of 61 kWh/person in 2002 to 42 kWh/person in 2025. Such reductions highlight a significant need for policy reform to foster an environment that encourages the growth of low-carbon electricity, which is essential for not only environmental sustainability but also for economic resilience.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Nigeria can look to various successful regions for inspiration, particularly in the areas of solar and nuclear energy. The People's Republic of China leads substantially in solar, producing over 1117 TWh, and wind, with 1090 TWh, illustrating the effectiveness of large-scale clean energy projects. Additionally, countries like the United States and France have shown how investment in nuclear technology can add substantial low-carbon electricity, with figures standing at 781 TWh and 369 TWh respectively. Nigeria can adopt strategies from these regions, focusing on increasing investments in solar projects due to its vast sunlight potential, and considering nuclear power as a reliable and continuous source of low-carbon electricity.
History
The history of Nigeria's low-carbon electricity generation has seen a varied trajectory, predominantly influenced by hydropower variations. In the early 1980s, changes were modest, with mixed results over time. The 1990s began to show promise with powers like 1.5 TWh added in 1991. Further notable boosts occurred in 2002 with an increase of 2.3 TWh and in 2016 with a rise of 2.4 TWh. However, there have been periods of decline, such as in 2006 with a 1.5 TWh drop and again in 2018, losing 1.3 TWh. Despite these fluctuations, there have been some positive shifts as seen in 2022 and 2025 with smaller increases. The focus should now shift to creating a robust energy policy that embraces the consistency and expansion of low-carbon resources, ensuring that Nigeria's energy future is sustainable and resilient.
