Privatising Power: UK aid funds energy privatisation in Nigeria

This new research, released on 17 March, by campaign group Global Justice Now shows that since 2002, £140 million of UK aid money has been spent by the Department for International Development (DfID) on projects to support the privatisation of Nigeria’s energy system, with disastrous consequences for people in Nigeria.

Despite its vast oil wealth, over half of Nigerians lack access to electricity, and the country’s grid power usage per person is among the lowest in the world, meaning that many people rely on candles and kerosene, or expensive diesel generators. Lack of electricity hampers the provision of public services like healthcare and education, and makes it difficult or impossible for businesses to operate efficiently. As a result, Nigeria relies on imports for most of its manufactured goods. So it is clear that change is urgently needed to Nigeria’s energy system.