As Nigeria faces persistent national grid collapses-occurring 10 times between January and early November alone-many states are seeking independent power sources for reliable electricity.
The push follows the national grid’s repeated failures and the new Electricity Act, signed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, which allows states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity.
Lagos leads in self-regulation with four planned gas-fired power hubs, each generating a minimum of 100MW.
The state aims to bridge its 6GW demand, with only 2GW currently supplied at peak.
Similarly, Ekiti State has licensed 14 companies to generate power, aiming to increase its current 25MW grid allocation to 130MW.
Other states, such as Ogun, Osun, Benue, Kogi, and Gombe, are developing power projects, ranging from gas turbines to solar plants.
Rivers and Edo States already have functional independent power setups, while Kaduna is focusing on solar energy.
Conversely, Zamfara and other northern states are collectively working towards a single independent power source, reflecting a regional approach to tackle grid instability.
These developments highlight a nationwide shift towards localised power generation as states strive for energy security and economic stability amid the national grid’s instability.
