WARNINGS ABOUT BATTERIES FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY

[4/3, 11:40 AM] Alaba Babalola: *These days, some of the new bragging rights in Nigeria is*

*I have solar now.*

*Just install solar*

*I understand it, I really do*

*Solar has helped a lot of us escape the madness of unstable power. It has brought comfort, quiet, and some level of control over our lives*

But there is something we are not talking about enough.

What if, in trying to fix one problem, we have quietly brought danger closer to ourselves than we realize, even death?

Yes, I said it.

Because when you look closely at what many homes are installing, especially the more affordable setups, the story starts to change.

Most people are not using the expensive lithium batteries you see in premium installations. What we have in many homes are tubular batteries, the ones many Nigerians can actually afford.

And these are lead-acid batteries.

Which means they contain lead.

Lead is not something you want around you. Not in your air, not in your home, and definitely not anywhere near your children.

Now pause and really think about this.

These batteries are not just sitting there doing nothing. As they charge and discharge, they release gases like hydrogen. And depending on their condition, especially when they are aging, overcharging, or poorly installed, there can also be harmful fumes involved.

Then you look around and you start to notice a pattern.

Batteries inside rooms.

Under staircases.

In kitchens.

On balconies with little to no ventilation.

Sometimes even inside bedrooms.

We install it, take pictures, feel like we have solved a major problem, and move on.

Meanwhile, something is quietly building in that same space.

You are inhaling what you should not be inhaling.

And the most dangerous part is that it does not happen loudly. It is gradual.

So you start noticing things that do not quite add up. The constant headaches. The unusual tiredness. That feeling that something is off, but you cannot explain it.

And it rarely crosses your mind that the battery sitting quietly in one corner could be part of the problem.

Over time, exposure to lead and these fumes can affect your brain, your memory, your breathing, your kidneys, your energy levels, and for children, their growth and development.

This is where it gets heavy for me.

I genuinely weep for Nigeria.

Because we are celebrating solutions without thinking about the long-term consequences.

In a country with little to no regulation. In a system where the government does not prioritize the health and safety of its citizens. In an environment where waste disposal is poorly handled, where you see battery dumps and electronic waste scattered carelessly.

We are introducing more lead into our living spaces without structure, without proper education, and without safeguards.

Years from now, we may start seeing the effects.

Not loudly. Not in a way that is easy to trace.

But in patterns of health issues that people cannot fully explain.

And by then, it may already be too late for many.

Let me say this clearly.

Solar is not the problem.

The way we are adopting it is.

Because the same thing that is supposed to improve your life should not be the thing quietly putting your health at risk.

If you are using tubular batteries, pause and look at your setup again. Think about where it is placed. Think about the air around it. Think about who installed it and whether safety was even part of the conversation.

If you cannot change everything immediately, at least start making adjustments. Improve ventilation. Move it away from spaces where you spend long hours. Be intentional about how it is handled.

And if you can, plan towards safer options like lithium, even if it takes time.

Most importantly, stop seeing this as a competition.

This is not about “I better pass my neighbour.”

Because the goal is not just to have light.

The goal is to stay alive and well enough to enjoy that light.

If you already have solar, this is not to scare you.

It is to wake you up.

Check your setup. Ask questions. Make changes where necessary.

And please, share this.

*Because a lot of people are celebrating solar, without fully understanding what they have brought into their homes*

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[4/3, 11:40 AM] Alaba Babalola: Whether lithium or tubular or water batteries, they are best installed inside the Generator House. If there is no Generator House, they should be installed outside the house, camped and roofed to prevent rain beating the batteries. They must not be placed inside the House, under the staircase or on the Corridor!  Not even because of lead pollution, the batteries are combustible in case of fire outbreaks in the house, may we not buy with our money what will lead to our disaster, in Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen.