Consumer advocacy groups, government regulators, and environmental experts have called on Nigerian businesses to transition to affordable clean energy options. The collective plea was made during the Neighbourhood Power Protocol Stakeholders’ Engagement Dialogue, themed “Consumers for Clean Air,” held in Lagos.
Stakeholders emphasized that systemic grid instability remains the primary driver behind the commercial sector’s heavy reliance on fossil-fuel generators, which severely degrades air quality in urban commercial districts.
Key points and expert perspectives delivered during the dialogue include:
Addressing the Root Cause of Energy Insecurity: Executive Director of the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF), Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, highlighted that generator usage is a symptom of broader grid unreliability. She stressed that diesel emissions directly impact workers, shoppers, and surrounding residents.
Affordable Clean Energy Pathways: Highlighting the pilot findings of the six-month Neighbourhood Power Protocol campaign—supported by Consumers International across Lagos and Enugu—Prof. Ndukwe-Okafor encouraged business clusters to adopt pooled solar options and flexible leasing models rather than individual generator units.
Consumer Rights and Responsible Operations: Akinwumi Ishola, Head of Quality Assurance and Development at the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), reminded attendees that clean air is a public consumer right. He urged businesses to ensure proper generator placement and maintenance while advising consumers to report harmful business practices and defective power equipment.
Data-Driven Source Control: Representing the President of Environmental Health Services (Dr. Cyril Akinyele), environmental expert Dr. Olorunwa Marcus emphasized the need for continuous, empirical air-quality monitoring and direct source control to mitigate health risks.
During the event, participating businesses were invited to sign voluntary clean-energy commitments to accelerate the shift away from fossil-fuel dependence.
