Popular cleric and financial expert, Dr. Olumide Emmanuel, has urged Nigerians to embrace solar energy as fuel prices and electricity challenges continue to hit homes and businesses hard.
Speaking during an interview, Emmanuel pointed to Aso Rock’s reported solar power adoption as a signal that Nigerians should begin seeking alternative energy solutions instead of depending solely on the national grid.
According to him, businesses are already struggling under rising energy costs, revealing that his organisation’s monthly diesel expenses jumped from ₦7.5 million to ₦15 million within months.
He explained that after calculating the long-term cost of diesel, his company began considering a ₦130 million solar installation project as a more sustainable option.
“If the president that is promising electricity has already powered Aso Rock with solar, then Nigerians should understand the direction things are going,” he said.
The cleric also argued that Nigeria’s problem is not lack of money but poor management and weak infrastructure.
He noted that governors now receive far more allocations following subsidy removal and should begin investing heavily in power generation, transportation, roads and other critical infrastructure.
According to him, every state now has the legal freedom to generate its own electricity, questioning why many states are yet to fully explore the opportunity.
On fuel prices, Emmanuel defended the role of the Dangote Refinery, describing it as a major rescue for Nigeria’s fuel supply situation.
He said without the refinery, Nigerians might still be facing long fuel queues despite the high petrol prices.
The financial expert also praised some of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, including subsidy removal, naira floatation and the new tax law, which he described as beneficial for low-income earners and small businesses.
However, he stressed that while economic indicators may be improving, ordinary Nigerians are yet to fully feel the impact because of inflation, infrastructure problems and rising living costs.
Emmanuel further encouraged Nigerians to save, invest wisely and create multiple sources of income, insisting that wealth creation requires discipline, knowledge and proper financial management.
