Nigerians are choosing sunshine over the failing grid — installations could pass 200 megawatts this year, a national record

When the grid falters, Nigerians are increasingly generating their own power. Figures shared by Benjamin Clarke of the Africa Solar Industry Association in Lagos show annual solar installations climbing from about 15 megawatts in 2019 to 123 megawatts in 2024. About 89 megawatts have already come online in 2026, with another 115 megawatts under construction — enough, if finished this year, to push 2026 past 200 megawatts, the highest annual total in the association's records. Nigeria now has roughly 620 megawatts of working solar, the most in West Africa, and leads the continent in solar mini-grids at about 132 megawatts.

SDG 7 · Affordable and clean energy — Mechanism: market force