Lagos Residents Protest Electricity Shortages Amid Heatwave

The electricity supply situation in Nigeria has deteriorated significantly, particularly during a recent heatwave, affecting residents across various states including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Maiduguri, Ondo State, and Kwara. Many households are experiencing outages lasting days or weeks, prompting protests on Lagos Island where mainly women from several streets demanded immediate restoration of power.

The protests were fueled by discomfort from rising temperatures and the inability to carry out daily activities without electricity. The Eko Electricity Distribution Company reported a drop in its allocation from 486 megawatts to 347 megawatts, leading to adjustments in supply.

The Lagos State Government has warned of extreme heat due to the strengthening El Niño climate pattern, which could result in an additional 31,400 heat-related deaths in Nigeria between September 2026 and February 2027. The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company has also faced criticism for inadequate supply, with residents on the Lagos Mainland receiving less than 10 hours of electricity daily.