₦airaland Forum

idomytin:
Where is Nigeria. No more characters needed.
First to comment 🤣

Justabdul1:
Nigerians do not merely struggle to survive; they struggle to live without light. Darkness has become a common denominator for most citizens. If a person is not trapped in the darkness of kidnappers’ dens, they are certain to face the darkness caused by the recurring collapse of the national grid.
The experience differs by location. In some parts of the country, people doubt the grid exists at all. For them, electricity is a term encountered only in the dictionary.

Does Nigeria still have a functional national grid? Why is the entire nation in darkness? During President Tinubu’s recent visit to Jos, the airport could not provide ten minutes of power to honour his ‘generous’ ten-minute meeting with survivors of the senseless killings — killings enabled by maladministration and misgovernance.

Let me share some sad news. I do not mean to be pessimistic. We may not have stable electricity again. If we are lucky to have stable power in the future, that would be perhaps after the Tinubu government in 2027 or 2031 — as the case may be — or when he is no more, should he become life president. The reason is simple: he, and the presidency, no longer need the national grid, because greed teaches selfishness.

Since it was announced that Aso Villa now runs on solar-powered electricity, I have a feeling Nigerians will hug darkness for a very long time. Many have realized this and become hopeless. Out of that hopelessness, those who have the means are installing solar panels to say no to darkness. They choose self-reliance in power generation because the government has proven, beyond doubt, to be unreliable.

However, the growing number of solar users has become a source of concern to the Lagos State Government. As if on behalf of God, or with God’s permission, Lagos now monetizes the sun — a free gift of nature. Solar users in government-owned housing estates must seek government approval before installing panels. The approval, of course, is not free. It comes with a fee. If you think you’re smart to be self-reliant, the government in Lagos is saying you will be punished with a fine for being smart.

Since a clip of some Lagos ministry officials harassing a resident at the Millennium Housing Estate over an unapproved solar panel went viral, Nigerians have not stopped asking: Where else on earth are citizens charged a ‘sun tax’?

The question is valid. But Lagos is not the first to impose fees on solar panels. It is only that the rationale differs. In the few cities where such fees exist globally, they apply because users remain connected to the national grid; they are not off-grid. In Lagos, the fees have nothing to do with the grid. They have everything to do with greed, going by official explanation. I will come back to this.

For now, the state insists a solar installation counts as an “alteration” requiring a government permit — at a cost. This begs the question: What exactly does a solar installation alter? The government says structural changes to buildings need approval under the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law.
In light of this, government officials claim solar installation “may” affect the integrity or design of residential structures. I wonder why a government that fails to protect the integrity of Nigeria and Nigerians is so obsessed with protecting the integrity of building design. Isn’t this a misplacement of priorities? Are we mentally stable? Isn’t this shameful?

A government that should bury its head in shame for its inability to provide something as basic as electricity is now on the prowl, taxing an already bleeding populace for finding an alternative to power supply. Isn’t it shameful that the ‘mega city’ single-handedly and painstakingly built by Tinubu cannot provide electricity? What exactly is metropolitan about Lagos if Lagosians, like remote villagers, have no power supply in the 21st century?

As I wrote earlier, Lagos isn’t the first city to introduce solar installation fees — or, preferably, a ‘sun tax’. We read that Spain tried imposing a tax on self-consumed solar in 2015 but repealed it after three years in 2018. Why? The European Union called it illegal. Spanish citizens called it stupid. This columnist joins other Lagosians to call fees on solar installation stupid and ridiculous. It is ridiculous because sunlight is a free gift of nature. The government plays no role in the sun’s appearance and does not determine when it sets.

India, at one point, also introduced solar fees but banned them in 2022 and directed the states to issue free permits. Why? It was reasoned, and rightly so, that sunlight is not a privilege. It is a utility the government does not provide, cannot provide, and will never provide. Citizens get it free from God. No number of solar panels installed could reduce the supply of sunlight or make the sun collapse like our national grid, which habitually collapses.

The government might try to justify such levies by claiming solar users are connected to the national grid. That argument will not stand, for several reasons. Here are three. First, to impose levies on solar users, there must be a functional grid that is relatively stable. Second, there should be net-metering that allows solar users to feed the starving grid.

In serious countries, the relationship between solar users and the grid is give-and-take. It is called net-metering. This is how it works: when the sun is high and your panels produce more power than your house needs, the excess flows into the grid and your meter runs backwards. At night, you draw from the grid and the meter runs forwards. At the end of the month you pay only for the “net” difference. If you gave the grid more than you took, the electricity company owes you credits. The grid becomes your battery. You help it by day; it helps you by night. Lagos and Nigeria should learn from Kenya, Germany and even South Africa. That is how those countries treat citizens who solve power problems with their own money. If the government cannot make solar panels and other solar gadgets cheaper, it should not punish us for finding a legitimate way out of darkness.

The third reason the “connected to the national grid” argument will not stand is simple: not all solar users are connected to the grid. Many are off-grid and get no backup from the grid. It would be crass greed for the government to impose levies on them. Lagos cannot tax Lagosians for sunlight. This must be vehemently rejected. If Lagos, or Nigeria, wants to charge solar users ‘grid availability fees’, then it should make the grid available.

Lastly, if residents in government-owned estates are taxed for sunlight today and the rest of us look away, we will be the next target. Again, if rulers in Lagos are allowed to have their way, rulers in other states will start imposing a ‘sun tax’ on citizens in copycat fashion. If they ultimately succeed, the masses will soon pay for the air they breathe. We may also be taxed for the wells we dig in our compounds, followed by a rainy-season tax for rain that falls on our streets.

May God heal this country. The country is sick.

Abdulkadir Salaudeen
salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com

AMINDA:
Are you having a laugh? He just signed the 2026 budget into law and 2025 budget implementation was extended to June 2026. Contractors from 2025 are still unpaid. He can extend capital expenditure to 90%, but it's all on paper. Where is the money?

hehehehehehe:
watin happen to "face ur own region" u always preached?

aworatak:
It is apparent that you are not only speaking from your stomach but you are bereft of common knowledge and under the influence of praise singing.
I made a mistake replying you erroneously believing you are sound.
This is my last reply to you.

Lanruze:
After the APC Digital Summit held in Abuja in the first half of 2025, the number of social media influencers, story spinners and keypad warriors unleashed on the opposition especially on Nairaland on Peter Obi, You would have no doubt that he indeed posseses an asset above election value alone.

If you want to confirm, check the monikers above ; their comments, biases and bile towards an innocent presidential aspirant whose only offence is a presidential ambition and winning Lagos State in the '23 presidential elections.

aworatak:
Asides the Hotel project which is on the second picture, every other project handled by that peter mba is either abandoned, substandard or poorly executed.
Do not be deceived by what you see online

Malroux:
Will you like to replace them?

Omodua:
Hmmmmm

This is astonishing. First time to host The Games since 1973 by any southeast state. Ironically, southeast is sports hub of Nigerian state. Yet, very far from hosting the games!

Could any one offer reasons why it's taking 51 years for any Eastern state to Host the games

techbro1:
I have a question o. Why does it seem like the VC of Nigerian universities is more popular than the Chancellor? Is there a reason behind this?

Oganigwe:
Our midfield trio should be Onyedika, Onyeka and Dele-Bashiru...play Iwobi from the wing if he has to start or bench him. Eguavoen gaffed big time by starting Iheanacho and even more baffling that he played him from the wing! like what kind of self-sabotage is that? Ndidi offers us nothing, just another pedestrian player living off on "experienced player" tax.

I'm sorry but players like Ndidi, Iheanacho, and Sadiq have absolutely no business in the NT! Ojediran of Lens is looking like a exciting prospect, why not just give players like that a chance? Vince Osuji is balling in Sweden top flight football, why not give the kid a chance? I'll even take Ariehi over Iheanacho right now at this point- at least he's one for the future.

Aina sef dey Bleep up these days, he needs serious competition in that position and Osayi doesn't inspire much confidence. So why can't NFF try players like Kingsley Ehibizue, Felix Agu and Kayode from Fiorentina? Osimhen and Moses Simon keep carrying this team but for how long can we keep depending on their individual brilliance to bail us out... Nwabali sef needs to stop letting media hype get into his head and calm down. Lookman is really trying but he was so isolated and crowded out with no options available for those lay-offs.

The only positives today were Bruno Onyemaechi (solid baller), Simon Moses and Onyedika to some extent. The rest were absolutely gash. Lots of work and revamping needs to be done going forward and NFF have to come out clear and decide who our coach is after the Rwandan game, if it's Eguavoen then announce him as the substantive coach and find tactically sound assistants to support him (if possible bring back Siasia into the coaching fold).

JASONjnr:
Bleating like your deranged self?

You left the good message about making a Nigerian state a hospital-hub to reduce the medical doctors travelling abroad for greener pastures, and focus on the security crisis as if your region is better snd perfect.

Namaster:
The more I read about Edun, the DUMBER he sounds.

First of all, THREATENING people to bring their USD to the bank is STUPID. Adding a deadline makes it even MORE stupid.

He did NOT specify a punishment after the deadline because there is practically NO way to enforce the order.

Dollars outside the banking system is Dollars you DON'T know about. So there's NTHING he can do if people refuse to bring it in.

Only result of this SILLY policy would be another ASTRONOMICAL increase in the price of USD. Which is in line with other FOREX policies implemented by Tinubu and this fool.

Plus, NOBODY will trust banks with a reasonable amount of money.

Firstly because Nigerian banks are USELESS. You put your money in the bank and they accept it EAGERLY. But to withdraw same money would be like plucking teeth from a Hot lion.

Secondly, KNOWING the desperation of Tinubu and Edun and the rumours flying around since last year; there is a possibility that your USD would be FORCEFULLY converted into Naira.

Point is you can NEVER trust Nigerian banks with your FOREX.

Finally, 80% of Nigerians have NEVER seen or touched a FOREIGN note. 90% of the USD outside the banking system are held by POLITICIANS.

And there's NO way they'd submit their Ghana-must-go bags to ANY bank.
Otherwise, pepple like Ganduje would have a lot to EXPLAIN.

10mobile:
You are truly obsessed with people from a particular region. Poor you. You can't even hide it anymore😘

AntiZikist:
This one should go and form his Anioma and join his long lost brothers in SE.

This is the same idiot that was demanding from the governor why he is constructing a flyover in Warri and not investing said funds into a Federal Govt PPP power substation in Asaba .

I blame am. If not for IBB wife that made Asaba capital of Delta will that his town become a capital with all the years of investment from resources from Delta South?

When you get your Anioma state, you will join Abia, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi in getting less allocation than Delta state.