Solar future - now
Jigawa state is in the far north of Nigeria, on the edge of the Sahel region. It is hot, dusty and remote. Its people are poor and poorly served by their government. Nigeria is rich in oil. It is the fifth richest member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), yet this wealth has brought few benefits to Jigawa.
A recurrent feature of life in Nigeria is blackouts – electricity supply is sporadic at best in towns, in villages it is non-existent. There is little expectation that the national grid will reach these villages in the near future, so the government of Jigawa state decided to try something radically different.
In 2001, an American organisation, the Solar Electric Light Fund, joined up with the Jigawa Alternative Energy Fund to use solar power to provide essential services in three villages.
Solar energy would be used to provide electricity to 20 households in each village; there would be street lighting and electricity for schools, clinics, a water pump and a business centre. Two technicians are responsible for basic maintenance, such as checking and watering batteries and cleaning the lamps. Senior technicians who visit the villages each month handle more complex jobs.
‘We first discussed other possibilities such as coal or biogas,’ says Mohammad Sani Muhammad, the executive secretary of the Jigawa fund. ‘Solar was the obvious solution. Not only would we be helping economic development, but we would also cut down on deforestation which is such a big problem here.’
In 2001, an American organisation, the Solar Electric Light Fund, joined up with the Jigawa Alternative Energy Fund to use solar power to provide essential services in three villages.
Solar energy would be used to provide electricity to 20 households in each village; there would be street lighting and electricity for schools, clinics, a water pump and a business centre. Two technicians are responsible for basic maintenance, such as checking and watering batteries and cleaning the lamps. Senior technicians who visit the villages each month handle more complex jobs.
‘We first discussed other possibilities such as coal or biogas,’ says Mohammad Sani Muhammad, the executive secretary of the Jigawa fund. ‘Solar was the obvious solution. Not only would we be helping economic development, but we would also cut down on deforestation which is such a big problem here.’
The difference is great
Ahoto is one of the chosen three; a remote village more than 100km from Jigawa’s forlorn capital of Dutse. Ahoto has about 400 families; they live in large compounds of thatched huts for the extended family. Pigs, goats and chickens also live in the compounds, scrabbling for food around the communal cooking areas. The more fortunate families – 20 in all – now have a three- or five-light solar system.
The head of the village, Garba Bello, is delighted. He has a five-light system in his compound and pays about 600 naira (US$4) a month. ‘The difference is great,’ says Garba. ‘People now go out at night and chat. Before, you could not even see your neighbour’s house in the night. It is also good for the women because there are classes for them at night in the school.’
But the real difference is in the bustling shopping area – along the dusty path that leads from the school to the mosque is a newly constructed block with six rooms. Each houses a different business and when darkness falls, this is the social and economic hub of Ahoto. ‘Before, we had to work at night with a lantern. It was terrible, so much heat and smoke,’ says tailor Omar Aliyu.
The head of the village, Garba Bello, is delighted. He has a five-light system in his compound and pays about 600 naira (US$4) a month. ‘The difference is great,’ says Garba. ‘People now go out at night and chat. Before, you could not even see your neighbour’s house in the night. It is also good for the women because there are classes for them at night in the school.’
But the real difference is in the bustling shopping area – along the dusty path that leads from the school to the mosque is a newly constructed block with six rooms. Each houses a different business and when darkness falls, this is the social and economic hub of Ahoto. ‘Before, we had to work at night with a lantern. It was terrible, so much heat and smoke,’ says tailor Omar Aliyu.
‘Now we have a lot of business, especially before religious festivals’
Omar has done so well he now owns five farms and employs farm hands.
Omar’s fellow tailor is Garbe Tela. A football fanatic, he has even made his own football boots complete with a homemade Nike logo. ‘Now I even have a fan next to me to keep me cool. Before, I worked in front of my house with a kerosene lantern right up close to the machine. The smoke was horrible.’ Moussa Muhammad, the solar field manager for Ahoto, says the system is so successful that many more households would like to be connected, but the expense is prohibitive. Even this small foray into solar energy costs about ten million naira (US$8,000) per village.
Omar’s fellow tailor is Garbe Tela. A football fanatic, he has even made his own football boots complete with a homemade Nike logo. ‘Now I even have a fan next to me to keep me cool. Before, I worked in front of my house with a kerosene lantern right up close to the machine. The smoke was horrible.’ Moussa Muhammad, the solar field manager for Ahoto, says the system is so successful that many more households would like to be connected, but the expense is prohibitive. Even this small foray into solar energy costs about ten million naira (US$8,000) per village.
Shared ownership
The solar panels are also very vulnerable, which is why local communities need to take ownership of their systems. There are panels on the roof of the concrete business block, but they cannot be installed on the thatched roofs of homes, so they are attached to poles. The panels for the water pump are set out in an enclosed area protected by a 24-hour watchman. Petty vandalism or a severe storm can easily damage a panel. The water pump is vital for the health of the villagers. For the first time they have access to clean, fresh water. Fifteen household compounds have taps and there are ten communal taps. The pump provides water during daylight hours; the rest of the time it comes from an overhead tank holding 1,000 gallons.
The shops stay open until well past midnight. If it were possible to build another block of shops, there would be no problem filling them with businesses. Auwalal Muhammad decided not to wait; he ran a cable under the sand to his radio repair shop. His shop is piled up with radios waiting to be repaired.‘It was very difficult before,’ he says. ‘I used a kerosene stove and had to work with live flame and heat.'
The shops stay open until well past midnight. If it were possible to build another block of shops, there would be no problem filling them with businesses. Auwalal Muhammad decided not to wait; he ran a cable under the sand to his radio repair shop. His shop is piled up with radios waiting to be repaired.‘It was very difficult before,’ he says. ‘I used a kerosene stove and had to work with live flame and heat.'
'Now I have ten times more business and I am doing so well I even got myself another wife’
Solar energy has changed the lives of women. Sharia law is strictly enforced in this part of Nigeria and women are not allowed to leave their compounds during daylight hours.
Street lighting actually makes life more complicated for them, as they should not be seen at night either, but they manage to skirt around the lit areas. Those lucky enough to have light in their compounds say it is easier for them to care for their children. ‘Before, you had to buy kerosene and sometimes you did not have the money,’ says Fatima Bello, the wizened mother of the head of the village.
‘Now you can work at night, you have no difficulty,you thank God. You can wash and skin peanuts at night and then they are ready for grinding in the morning.’ But the grinding machine still runs on a generator. The amount of energy required to operate it means using solar power is not cost effective. The mosque is vital in this deeply religious village. Set in the centre it holds 200 worshippers inside and for Friday prayers attracts 500 more outside. It has four inside lights and the solarpowered public address system facilitates the call to prayer.
As in all developing countries, Nigeria’s young people need to travel to the cities in search of jobs. A guaranteed supply of electricity can change all that. Salisu Ibrahim worked for one year as a barber before setting up a shop in Ahoto’s business centre. ‘Before, when I used hand clippers, I used to travel all over – to Abuja, Kano and around Plateau state just looking for business,’ he says while trimming the hair of a terrified-looking nine-yearold. ‘Now I am staying put. I earn enough to look after my wife and child and my parents. Business is very good; people are attracted by modern equipment.’
Street lighting actually makes life more complicated for them, as they should not be seen at night either, but they manage to skirt around the lit areas. Those lucky enough to have light in their compounds say it is easier for them to care for their children. ‘Before, you had to buy kerosene and sometimes you did not have the money,’ says Fatima Bello, the wizened mother of the head of the village.
‘Now you can work at night, you have no difficulty,you thank God. You can wash and skin peanuts at night and then they are ready for grinding in the morning.’ But the grinding machine still runs on a generator. The amount of energy required to operate it means using solar power is not cost effective. The mosque is vital in this deeply religious village. Set in the centre it holds 200 worshippers inside and for Friday prayers attracts 500 more outside. It has four inside lights and the solarpowered public address system facilitates the call to prayer.
As in all developing countries, Nigeria’s young people need to travel to the cities in search of jobs. A guaranteed supply of electricity can change all that. Salisu Ibrahim worked for one year as a barber before setting up a shop in Ahoto’s business centre. ‘Before, when I used hand clippers, I used to travel all over – to Abuja, Kano and around Plateau state just looking for business,’ he says while trimming the hair of a terrified-looking nine-yearold. ‘Now I am staying put. I earn enough to look after my wife and child and my parents. Business is very good; people are attracted by modern equipment.’
Coming to a village near you
Solar energy has dramatically changed the lives of these villagers. Economically they are better off, they have access to clean water and education is not imited to daylight hours. The benefits have led the Jigawa state government to approve funds to supply 30 more villages with solar energy.
None of these villages are likely to have access to the national grid in the next ten years. However, without serious research and development, it is unlikely that solar energy can make the leap from isolated villages to towns and cities. Solar energy for a three bedroom bungalow in the city of Kano costs one million naira (US$800); a generator comes to just half that amount.
Join the climate change campaign
None of these villages are likely to have access to the national grid in the next ten years. However, without serious research and development, it is unlikely that solar energy can make the leap from isolated villages to towns and cities. Solar energy for a three bedroom bungalow in the city of Kano costs one million naira (US$800); a generator comes to just half that amount.
Join the climate change campaign
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