Abuja's Kugbo Market Explores Shared Solar Energy Project

A proposed project at Abuja's Kugbo furniture market seeks to explore the feasibility of a shared solar electricity system for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Developed through the SOAS Anti-Corruption Evidence programme in collaboration with Energy Market and Rates Consultants and Atmos Energy Solutions, the project aims to enable businesses to become part-owners of a cooperative electricity system.

A design paper published in March 2026 describes a pilot under development but does not confirm operational status or customer savings. The proposal is based on a survey conducted in March 2024, where 376 businesses were surveyed, and 277 expressed willingness to invest in cooperative electricity.

However, concerns were raised by 154 respondents about high setup costs, while 134 identified a lack of cooperation as a potential obstacle. The findings pertain specifically to the surveyed businesses and highlight the complexities of cost allocation based on varying electricity needs among different types of businesses.