What are the implications of Nigeria’s electricity supply problems for businesses looking to invest in the country?
When spending time in a Nigerian office or hotel, there are normally short periods every few hours when the lights and air conditioning go off as the building switches from the national grid to its own generators; or vice versa. In the TradeInvestNigeria offices we have a UPS system that keeps computers running to ensure that our staff can work without interruption. Most businesses have similar systems in place. The direct impact that using generators will have on your business is that it raises the cost of electricity and subsequently the prices of most products in Nigeria. Foreigners are usually surprised at how ‘expensive’ Nigeria is. This situation has made it difficult for many local manufacturers to compete with cheap foreign imports. The federal government has however banned the importation of many products in order to stimulate local production. As with other infrastructure projects many plans are on the table to improve power generation in Nigeria. Will I have access to a skil
