If there’s one thing Nigerians can relate to, it’s the constant battle with electricity. Electricity in Nigeria is a daily struggle. If it’s not NEPA taking light without warning, it’s the generator disturbing everyone with noise. These days, some people are switching to solar power. I’ve tried all three power supplies NEPA, generator, and solar, and honestly, I now prefer solar. But it took me an experience to realize this.
Growing up, we depended on NEPA, and it was always up and down. Sometimes you have light for a few hours, other times it disappears for days and you will still get the bill, even if you barely saw light that month. People shout Up NEPA out of excitement when the light comes, but we all know how unreliable it is.
Also, there’s the generator. Almost every home has one, especially in areas where NEPA hardly brings light. My family used a small generator that we call I pass my neighbor. We only brought it out when it became too hot or we had something urgent to do. The generator helped but it came with stress. Buying fuel, inhaling smoke, fixing it when it breaks down, and let’s not forget the noise. Sometimes it works and sometimes it won’t even start it depends on it weather that day.
But everything changed the day I visited my sister in the city for the first time. She had just moved to her new house with her family so I decided to visit her, from the moment I entered, I noticed how peaceful the place felt. The fan was blowing, her phone was charging, and the TV was showing a movie. But there was no sound of a generator. I asked her, You have light? and she said it is solar.
That was my first real experience with solar power. She explained how it worked. The sun charges the solar panels and the energy is stored in batteries. It was that simple. No fuel, no smoke, no drama. Staying with her was such a relief, I slept well at night, with no generator noise, and no heat, even when the whole street was in darkness, her house stayed bright. I didn’t need to rush and charge my phone or iron clothes in a hurry. Everything worked smoothly. That’s when I started asking myself why we hadn’t considered solar before.
She told me the setup cost was high, but once it’s installed, the expenses are very low. No fuel to buy, no noise to endure, and no running around trying to fix a broken generator. She said it had given her peace of mind, and I could see that for myself.
When I got back home, I felt the difference straight away. That same night, NEPA took light, and we brought out the generator. It gave us issues and refused to start. I was so angry because I thought of the calm and comfort I left behind at my sister’s place. I told my mother about my experience in my sister's house and she decided to get one for herself though she didn’t have the money for a big solar setup so she bought a small solar kit that could charge phones and power a few bulbs. Even that small step made life better. We no longer slept in total darkness and didn’t have to worry when there was no fuel.
Solar isn’t perfect. During the rainy season, it doesn’t charge as well because of low sunlight. And if you want to use heavy appliances like a pressing iron or fridge, you’ll need a stronger system, which costs more. But despite these small challenges, it’s still better than waiting for NEPA or wasting money on fuel.
When people ask me now which power source I prefer, I don’t even think twice. I say solar. It is less stressful. I don’t need to plan my life around when NEPA brings light or whether we have fuel. Solar gives me peace of mind.
This is my response to day 20 of the #aprilinleo daily prompt. If you wish to join this prompt then you can click on this Link
