As Eid al-Fitr arrived, residents across Niger State were grappling with worsening electricity shortages. Entire neighborhoods reported days without power, and during the holiday, many experienced barely two hours of electricity daily. Fans stopped, water systems failed, and businesses closed early, leaving residents frustrated. “We planned for Sallah, but there was no light. With this heat, it was unbearable,” said a resident of Chanchaga.
The power crisis intensified public scrutiny when Governor Umaru Bago, during a media briefing on February 28, 2026, encouraged residents to consider solar energy as an alternative. Many locals, however, described the suggestion as unrealistic. Garba, a trader in Minna, questioned, “How do you tell people to go solar when they can barely afford food?” Residents expressed little hope for improvement, with some fearing conditions could worsen in the coming weeks.
Governor Bago revealed that the Niger State Government is reducing its dependence on the national grid, disconnecting several government facilities, including Government House, and shifting to mini solar systems in over 180 communities. Plans are also underway to migrate the state water board to solar to mitigate water shortages. While the administration argues this strategy reduces pressure on the grid, many residents report that outages persist, highlighting inequities as government institutions gain energy independence.
Despite hosting major hydropower facilities like Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro dams, Niger State struggles with local supply due to transmission losses and infrastructure constraints. Electricity generated in the state feeds into the national grid, leaving local consumers with inconsistent access. Experts, including Dr. Musa Bulus, warn that decentralised energy solutions like solar should supplement, not replace, the grid, citing equity concerns.
Residents continue to rely on costly generators, ration fuel, and face daily disruptions. Many accuse the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) of unfair distribution, pointing out that the Federal Capital Territory receives a larger share of supply, while Niger and neighboring states are left with minimal power. Abubakar Sani of Tunga lamented, “We are in the state that produces electricity, yet we are the ones living in darkness.”
The ongoing situation underscores the growing divide between policy initiatives and everyday realities, as citizens struggle for consistent electricity while government facilities transition to independent solar power.
