Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, has repeatedly plunged into darkness. In 2024 alone, the country's national power grid has collapsed ten times, leaving millions without power. Recent power outages caused by weak infrastructure and damage have highlighted the enduring energy crisis that hampers economic growth and development. But beneath the surface lurks a key question: Why has one of the world's most resource-rich countries failed to build a resilient energy system?
The answer lies in a combination of internal challenges and external pressures—most notably, climate colonialismenergy policies set by global financial institutions and wealthy countries prioritize carbon reduction over human development.
country in darkness
Despite a population of over 200 million, Nigeria's energy system is woefully underdeveloped. The country has the capacity to generate electricity up to 13,000 megawatts (MW) Electricity, but poor infrastructure, only transmitting electricity 4,000 MW. Each person consumes less than 0.02 megawatts of electricity, barely enough to power basic household appliances. To fill the gap, households and businesses are expected to generate 40,000 MW Use expensive gasoline generators.
This overreliance on small-scale power generation is neither efficient nor sustainable. However, international financing for large-scale fossil fuel infrastructure, such as natural gas power plants, has dried up. Instead, money is increasingly directed toward renewable energy projects that cannot meet Nigeria’s baseload energy needs.
International pressure: the root causes of the crisis
Rich countries and global institutions have adopted aggressive decarbonization policies in recent years, increasingly refusing to fund fossil fuel development in poorer countries. This policy shift will particularly impact countries like Nigeria, which lack the financial resources to replace fossil fuels with expensive renewable technologies.
For example:
The restrictions come at a time when Nigeria is desperate to modernize its electricity grid. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, while useful for localized generation, cannot replace the reliability of fossil fuel baseload power. Worse, attempts to accelerate the transition to renewable energy are backfiring. For example, solar panel installations have proven difficult to maintain, with failure rates exceeding 30% in some areas within five years.
blackouts and destruction
The crisis is exacerbated by the physical vulnerability of Nigeria’s power grid infrastructure. Armed groups regularly damage transmission lines, worsening an already fragile system. Just last month, insurgents disrupted power in the northern region for more than a week.
This raises a bitter irony: While international policymakers insist on eliminating fossil fuels to combat climate change, Nigeria continues to burn more diesel, a more carbon-intensive fuel, just to maintain electricity. As far as the current situation is concerned, Diesel generators account for nearly 20% of Nigeria’s carbon emissions. This misleading approach highlights the failure of climate colonialism to achieve its purported environmental goals.
geopolitical hypocrisy
Developed countries are filled with hypocrisy about the climate needs of the Global South. While countries like Germany are reopening coal-fired power plants in 2023 to address energy shortages, they are promoting renewable-only policies to developing countries. Likewise, China, the world's largest coal consumer, continues to use fossil fuels to finance its industrial growth while promoting solar exports to Africa.
These policies not only hinder Nigeria’s development but also exacerbate global inequality. By forcing developing countries to rely on unreliable and expensive renewable energy, rich countries maintain their industrial advantage.
way forward
Nigeria’s energy crisis is emblematic of broader challenges facing the global South. To solve this problem, several measures need to be taken:
- Investing in Fossil Fuels as Baseline Electricity
Nigeria must reject one-size-fits-all solutions imposed by external actors. Natural gas is a relatively clean fossil fuel that offers a practical way to stabilize the grid while minimizing emissions. - Strengthen domestic infrastructure
The government should prioritize modernizing transmission lines and ensuring they are protected from damage. Decentralized energy approaches that blend fossil fuels with local renewable energy can also increase resilience. - Challenging international policy
Developing countries must unite to demand reform of global financial institutions. Agencies should recognize that a phased energy transition is critical for countries facing severe energy poverty. - Embrace new technologies
Technologies such as modular nuclear reactors should be explored to generate electricity. These should be explored alongside other diversification strategies.
in conclusion
The power outage in Nigeria was not just a technical glitch; They are a direct result of a global energy agenda that prioritizes ideology over pragmatism. By enforcing strict anti-fossil fuel policies, rich countries and international organizations have effectively prevented Nigeria from using its resources to lift millions of people out of poverty.
For Nigeria, the path forward must include rejecting externally imposed solutions and adopting a development-first approach to energy policy. Only by asserting its right to define its own energy future can Nigeria escape the darkness of climate colonialism and unlock its true potential.
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