NBS Report Exposes Nigeria’s Energy Crisis: Over Half of Households Lack Electricity

• The National Bureau of Statistics reported that 53.6% of Nigerian households lack electricity access, with an average of 6.4 weekly outages
• Households in southern Nigeria experience longer blackouts than those in the north, highlighting significant regional disparities in energy access

A new report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has illuminated Nigeria’s ongoing energy crisis, revealing that 53.6% of households lack access to electricity.

The survey, conducted in partnership with the World Bank, covered 4,715 households nationwide and highlighted severe challenges in energy access, especially in rural areas.

The findings show that Nigerian households face an average of 6.4 power outages per week, each lasting approximately 12 hours. This translates to 67.2 hours of weekly blackouts, underscoring the scale of the problem.

Urban and rural households suffer frequent outages, with urban households averaging 6.4 blackouts weekly and rural areas experiencing slightly more at 6.9. However, blackout durations are similar, averaging 12.0 hours in urban areas and 12.1 hours in rural regions.

Significant regional differences were also noted. Households in southern zones endure longer blackouts, typically exceeding 12 hours, while those in northern zones report slightly shorter outages, averaging less than 11 hours.

Access to electricity remains heavily skewed towards urban areas, where 82.2% of households report having electricity. In contrast, only 40.4% of rural households have access, leaving a stark disparity.

The report highlights the dominance of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria/Nigerian Electric Power Authority (PHCN/NEPA), which provides electricity to 88.2% of households with access.

Alternative energy sources, including generators, solar systems, and mini-grids, play only a minor role in the energy supply chain.

This report underscores the pressing need for improved energy infrastructure and policies to address Nigeria’s critical energy challenges, especially in underserved rural areas.