One of the biggest and most pressing problems that faces the African continent and Nigeria specifically, is the lack of access to electricity.
The absence of energy to electrify homes, factories, and business is one of the greatest impediments to the success and progression of the Nigerian economy and it keeps millions of Nigerians locked in a perpetual state of poverty.
Solar Power in Nigeria can Change this Narrative
One thing about Africa is that there is no shortage of sunshine. It is an ever-present force in our lives. It provides warmth, life, energy, and light. Tapping into solar power in Nigeria has a chance to change the game and bring electricity to the masses that desperately need it.
If we expect Nigeria to be a player on the world scene, it must be able to provide light to the country – consistently. If this can not be done, we should be ashamed of calling ourselves the “Giant of Africa”.
Waiting on the government to save us is not a good idea, and we will surely be waiting forever, but fortunately, there are some companies that are taking the dive and investing in solar power in Nigeria to make a difference.
Largest Solar PV Farm in West Africa
B&S Solar, a Singapore-based renewable energy company in conjunction with Sunnyfred Global, a Nigerian investment enterprise has announced that they will finance, design, develop and build a 200 MW PV farm in Nigeria.
The location of the PV farm is on 340 hectares of land in Ashama village, Aniocha South of Delta State. Not many details were given on when the project would officially break ground or when it would be completed, but the plan in itself was welcomed by local and federal officials who applauded the efforts of all parties involved.
A 200 MW solar farm has the ability to power around 100,000 thousand average homes. This would give an immediate jolt to the local communities that surround the plant. It would also generate hundreds of jobs for Nigerian residents.
As the world pivots away from the oil economy and towards renewable sources of energy, Solar power in Nigeria could and should be the next frontier.
Many Nigerians have solar panels installed on their homes in the cities and in the village, and the more this happens the better, but seeing large-scale PV farms like this in the works is a great sign and a step in the right direction.
The World Bank estimates that over 80 million Nigerians do not have access to electricity and millions more suffer from an inadequate supply of electricity and poor service from the federal government.
Nigerians spend about ₦ 1.6 Trillion on fossil fuel generators yearly – a staggering amount. With the more prevalent solar power in Nigeria, this could mean great savings for millions of people.
Solar power in Nigeria is here to stay and more farms and installations will be expected to be installed all over the country, from single homes to large buildings and factories, let us keep the momentum going and light our our nation with the sun.
