How to Survive 25-Day Lagos Blackouts as a Remote Worker

The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) has announced in a customer notice that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) will carry out essential maintenance on the Omotosho Ikeja West 330 kV transmission line, leading to a 25-day planned outage from Monday, July 28 to Thursday, August 21, 2025, with daily blackouts between 8 AM and 5 PM, that’s 9 hours of blackout every day for nearly a month.

For remote workers, freelancers, creatives, tech bros, assistants, and side hustlers, this isn’t just annoying. It’s a direct hit to your productivity and income.

But here’s the good news: you’ve got options.

Here are five practical and affordable ways to stay powered, connected, and productive while NEPA does its thing.

1. Try a Co-Working Space

Co-working spaces in Lagos are built for moments like this. Fast internet, stable power, and a professional vibe to keep you focused.

Even if you can’t afford it daily, try going a few times a week, especially when you have meetings, deadlines, or heavy tasks.

Cost: ₦5,000 – ₦15,000/day

Popular options:

• Workstation – VI
  
• Venia Hub – Lekki
  
• Leadspace – Yaba
  
• CapitalSquare – Ikoyi
  

 Ask for half-day passes or flexible weekly plans.

2.  Go Solar or Get an Inverter 

A basic inverter + solar setup might be worth it now.

Even a small 1.5kVA system can power your essential laptop, fan, MiFi, and lightbulbs for the full blackout stretch.

Cost: ₦450,000 – ₦700,000 (starter setup)
Lifespan: 5–10 years
Long-term benefit: No more waiting for the generator guy.

Additionally, solar adoption is growing rapidly in urban centres due to rising fuel prices and frequent grid failures.

A 2025 article in The Guardian highlighted how affordability and increased demand have driven solar uptake among households and businesses in cities like Lagos, noting that solar energy is becoming a mainstream alternative to generators 

3. Work from Cafés

Cafés are a great middle ground. Some now cater to remote workers, offering sockets, reliable Wi-Fi, and AC.

Cost: ₦3,000 – ₦7,000 (coffee + snack/lunch)
Where to try:

• Café One – Lekki & VI
  
• Art Café – VI
  
• My Coffee Lagos – Ikoyi
  
• Eric Kayser – Ikoyi
  

 Arrive early to get a seat with a socket and avoid the crowd.

4. Use Your Gen But Smarter

If you’ve got a small generator, you don’t need to run it all day. Use it in bursts:

• Charge devices
  
• Power Wi-Fi
  
• Knock out urgent tasks
  
• Then switch off and work offline
  

Fuel cost (2025): ₦750/litre
4 hours/day: ₦1,500 – ₦2,000/day
It’s not cheap, but missing a client meeting or deadline might cost more.

5. Keep It Light

This is for the minimalist crew: no solar, no gen, just essentials. A power bank + MiFi device can keep you online and active during daylight hours.

Essentials:

• Power bank (20,000mAh+): ₦25,000 – ₦45,000
  
• MiFi (MTN, Airtel, Glo): ₦25,000+
  
• Monthly data: ₦10,000 – ₦15,000
  

 Download what you need at night. Work offline when the power is off.

The 25-day outage may feel like a huge inconvenience, but it doesn’t have to bring your work to a halt. With the right mix of planning and backup tools, you can stay online, meet deadlines, and keep your income flowing without waiting on Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to save the day.