Nigeria’s worsening electricity supply, combined with soaring fuel prices, is intensifying economic hardship across the country, with households and businesses struggling to cope.
From Kano to Lagos, residents say power supply has become increasingly unreliable, forcing heavy reliance on generators and alternative energy sources. Many report receiving less than five hours of electricity daily despite paying higher tariffs.
Small businesses are among the hardest hit, as rising diesel and petrol costs—now as high as ₦1,800 and ₦1,400 per litre—push operating expenses beyond sustainable levels. Operators say frequent outages are destroying profits and forcing price hikes.
The Federal Government’s promise of improved electricity within two weeks has been widely dismissed as unrealistic, with critics pointing to long-standing structural challenges in the power sector.
Experts warn that the combined effect of poor electricity and high fuel costs is worsening inflation, threatening jobs, and putting additional pressure on already strained households.
As the crisis persists, many Nigerians say they are no longer interested in promises—but in real, lasting solutions.