This question sounds simple, but it sits at the center of how we make decisions as individuals, businesses, and even as a nation. In Nigeria, diesel generators are everywhere. They are noisy, expensive to maintain, and harmful to health, yet they remain the default solution for power. 

Diesel has been part of Nigerian life for decades. We grew up hearing the sound of generators, smelling fuel fumes, and planning our lives around power outages. Over time, this repetition created a belief: this is how things work. When something new like solar energy appears, it threatens that belief. Fear steps in, not because solar is bad, but because it is different.

‎Some think the cost of solar is too high, and when they run on diesel, it appears to cost lesser. This thinking is common, and it makes sense on the surface. Diesel feels cheaper because you pay in small amounts. You buy fuel today, refill tomorrow, repair the generator next week. Each payment is small enough to ignore. Solar, on the other hand, demands a larger upfront decision. That single payment feels heavy, even if it saves money over time. Our brains are wired to avoid big immediate pain, even when it leads to bigger future losses.

‎‎Change does not fail because it is wrong. Change fails because it demands new thinking. Solar energy does not just replace diesel; it replaces a mindset of constant spending with one of long-term planning. It asks people to think in years, not days. That shift is uncomfortable. It forces us to admit that what we are used to may not be what is best.