Solar energy potential in Nigeria
Nigeria is a good place for solar. Even the cloudiest coast gets about 4.12 peak sun hours a day on average, and the far north gets about 6.1. That is roughly half as much again for a Sokoto or Maiduguri roof as for one in Port Harcourt. This page ranks all 37 states and shows the same data as a layer on the live map.
Sunshine by state
| # | State | kWh/m² a day | kWh a year per kWp | Dullest month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Borno | 6.10 | 1,670 | Aug (5.3) |
| 2 | Jigawa | 6.05 | 1,660 | Dec (5.5) |
| 3 | Sokoto | 5.99 | 1,640 | Dec (5.5) |
| 4 | Yobe | 5.97 | 1,630 | Aug (5.3) |
| 5 | Katsina | 5.89 | 1,610 | Aug (5.4) |
| 6 | Bauchi | 5.88 | 1,610 | Aug (5.1) |
| 7 | Kano | 5.87 | 1,610 | Aug (5.2) |
| 8 | Zamfara | 5.85 | 1,600 | Aug (5.3) |
| 9 | Gombe | 5.83 | 1,600 | Aug (4.9) |
| 10 | Adamawa | 5.73 | 1,570 | Aug (4.7) |
| 11 | Kebbi | 5.70 | 1,560 | Aug (5.0) |
| 12 | Kaduna | 5.63 | 1,540 | Aug (4.6) |
| 13 | Plateau | 5.59 | 1,530 | Aug (4.6) |
| 14 | Taraba | 5.40 | 1,480 | Aug (4.3) |
| 15 | FCT (Abuja) | 5.29 | 1,450 | Aug (4.1) |
| 16 | Niger | 5.25 | 1,440 | Aug (4.3) |
| 17 | Nasarawa | 5.24 | 1,430 | Aug (4.2) |
| 18 | Benue | 5.04 | 1,380 | Aug (4.1) |
| 19 | Kwara | 5.03 | 1,380 | Aug (4.0) |
| 20 | Oyo | 4.94 | 1,350 | Aug (3.7) |
| 21 | Ebonyi | 4.89 | 1,340 | Aug (4.0) |
| 22 | Kogi | 4.86 | 1,330 | Aug (4.1) |
| 23 | Ekiti | 4.72 | 1,290 | Aug (3.8) |
| 24 | Enugu | 4.72 | 1,290 | Aug (3.9) |
| 25 | Ondo | 4.72 | 1,290 | Aug (3.8) |
| 26 | Lagos | 4.59 | 1,260 | Jul (3.8) |
| 27 | Ogun | 4.59 | 1,260 | Jul (3.8) |
| 28 | Osun | 4.58 | 1,250 | Aug (3.5) |
| 29 | Anambra | 4.57 | 1,250 | Aug (3.9) |
| 30 | Abia | 4.54 | 1,240 | Jul (3.8) |
| 31 | Imo | 4.54 | 1,240 | Jul (3.8) |
| 32 | Cross River | 4.51 | 1,230 | Aug (3.4) |
| 33 | Edo | 4.45 | 1,220 | Jul (3.7) |
| 34 | Delta | 4.43 | 1,210 | Jul (3.6) |
| 35 | Bayelsa | 4.19 | 1,150 | Jul (3.3) |
| 36 | Rivers | 4.19 | 1,150 | Jul (3.3) |
| 37 | Akwa Ibom | 4.12 | 1,130 | Jul (3.2) |
Value at each state's main area. Yearly output assumes 75% performance after losses, a planning figure that real systems can beat or miss.
What this means for your system
- The north needs fewer panels for the same energy, but harmattan dust and haze from December to February lowers output and makes cleaning more important.
- The south has a duller rainy season, so size the system and battery for July and August, not for the yearly average.
- Our solar and inverter size calculator can use your state's dullest-month sunshine so the panel estimate fits where you live.
- Sunshine is only one part of the decision. Roof direction, shade and the quality of the installation matter as much.
Where the data come from
NASA POWER (SYN1DEG), 2001–2025 mean of all-sky surface shortwave irradiance. Figures are for a flat surface, as measured by satellites and models, at about 100 km resolution. The map smooths them between grid points for display, so it shows regional patterns, not individual streets.
These data were obtained from the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) POWER Project funded through the NASA Earth Science/Applied Science Program.
What next?
Estimate your own system with the size calculator, then browse the free directory of solar installers, also on the map under Solar installers.
This guide is general information, not engineering, electrical or financial advice. Have a qualified, experienced installer assess your home or business, and follow local safety rules and the supplier's instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of Nigeria has the most sunshine?
The north. Borno comes top in this data at about 6.1 kWh per square metre per day, while the south coast, such as Akwa Ibom, gets about 4.12. Every state still has enough sun for solar to work, so the difference is mostly about how many panels you need.
What do kWh/m² a day mean?
It is the sun's energy that lands on one square metre of flat ground in a day. Solar designers also call the same number peak sun hours, because it equals the hours of full-strength sun (1,000 watts per square metre) you get. Four peak sun hours means a 1 kWp array can produce roughly 3 kWh on an average day after losses.
Why do I need the lowest month and not the yearly average?
If solar must keep your lights on all year, it has to work in your dullest month. In the south that is usually July or August in the rainy season, and in the north it can be the harmattan haze of December and January. Sizing on the yearly average leaves you short in those months.
How accurate is this map?
It is a guide, not a site survey. The data are 25-year averages at about 100 km resolution, smoothed for display, so they cannot show local shade, a particular roof, dust or a neighbourhood's microclimate. Use it to compare regions, then have an installer assess your own site.