The Federal Government has clarified that there is currently no immediate plan to ban the importation of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels into Nigeria. This comes amid ongoing discussions about boosting local manufacturing capacity to meet the country’s energy needs.
Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), stated that while efforts are underway to enhance domestic production, the current capacity is insufficient to meet national demand. “We are not banning solar importation for now. We are incentivising our local manufacturing for us to take over. But for now, we cannot address the needs of the country,” Aliyu said.
Earlier, Minister of Science and Technology Uche Nnaji had suggested that the government was considering restricting solar panel imports to support local manufacturers, citing the capabilities of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
However, stakeholders have expressed concerns about the potential impact of such a ban. The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) warned that Nigeria is not yet prepared for a restriction on solar panel imports, as local production capacity remains inadequate. “Banning the importation of solar panels while national production capacity is insufficient would only worsen the country’s energy crisis,” said CPPE CEO Muda Yusuf.
In the meantime, the government is taking steps to support local manufacturing. Aliyu mentioned that the REA is working to catalyse investments in solar panel manufacturing and lithium battery assembly plants, including a proposed facility in Lagos’ Lekki Free Zone.
Additionally, the government has launched a ₦5 billion clean energy scheme aimed at providing affordable access to solar home systems for Nigerian women across all 774 local government areas. The initiative, managed by the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CreditCorp), seeks to empower women to power their homes and small businesses with clean and reliable energy.
