KEY POINTS
- The Presidency says affordable, reliable energy is essential to Nigeria’s climate and economic goals.
- Experts urge the government to expand local solar manufacturing without making panels more expensive.
- Stakeholders advocate phased import restrictions, stronger quality controls and wider access to solar power.
The Presidency has stressed the need for affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to support Nigeria’s climate commitments, economic growth and national resilience, with solar power identified as an important part of the solution.
Yusuf Kelani, Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters, made the statement on Wednesday, October 28, in Abuja during a solar policy roundtable themed “Power, Access: Building Capacity for Affordable, Reliable Solar for Every Nigerian”.
Kelani said access to clean and dependable electricity was essential to Nigeria’s climate response and could help communities withstand economic and environmental challenges while supporting productive activities.
He noted that millions of Nigerian households and businesses continued to depend on alternative power sources because of persistent electricity supply challenges.
Solar power can boost agriculture
Kelani said decentralised solar energy systems could improve agricultural productivity by providing electricity for irrigation, cold storage and food processing.
According to him, these applications could reduce post-harvest losses, preserve agricultural produce and increase farmers’ incomes.
He said the growing adoption of solar power showed that Nigerians were already seeking alternatives to unreliable electricity supply.
The government, he added, needed to support this momentum through policies, institutions and investments that would make electricity more affordable and accessible.
Kelani stressed that the challenge extended beyond installing more solar systems. Nigeria also needed to develop a competitive domestic solar industry capable of supporting long-term energy access.
Local manufacturing must not increase costs
Kelani said domestic solar manufacturing could create jobs, encourage technology transfer, develop technical skills and attract investment.
However, he warned that policies designed to promote local production must be carefully structured to avoid raising prices or restricting access to solar equipment.
He advocated a predictable, evidence-based and phased approach that would allow local manufacturing to expand while keeping solar energy affordable for consumers.
The issue is becoming increasingly important as Nigeria prepares for changes in electricity pricing and subsidy arrangements from 2027. Kelani said rising energy costs could affect household welfare and business productivity, making affordability a central consideration in future policy decisions.
He also called for an inclusive energy transition that would benefit rural communities, women, young people, small businesses and vulnerable households.
Experts oppose premature solar import restrictions
Michael Terungwa, Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), said Nigeria’s local solar manufacturing and assembly capacity was expanding, with further investments expected.
He said the country needed a policy environment that would sustain the growth of domestic production without compromising affordability, product quality or consumer protection.
Terungwa commended the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, for his position that Nigeria should not ban solar panel imports before developing sufficient domestic manufacturing capacity.
He warned that an import ban introduced too early could increase prices, slow solar adoption and make it harder for households and businesses to obtain reliable electricity.
Terungwa said any future restrictions should be introduced only when domestic manufacturers could demonstrate sufficient production capacity, competitive pricing and compliance with effective quality certification standards.
He added that GIFSEP was prepared to support policies that promote local industry while protecting consumers’ access to affordable and clean energy.
Roundtable to review solar policy proposals
Nasir Isa, Director of the Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainability Transitions at Bayero University, Kano, said participants at the roundtable would examine and critique the policy brief before presenting their recommendations.
He said findings from policy briefs developed in Kano and Lagos would be presented for further discussion and input.
The discussions are intended to help shape approaches to expanding solar energy deployment, attracting investment and strengthening Nigeria’s domestic solar value chain.
The broader challenge is to grow local manufacturing while ensuring that the transition to renewable energy does not place additional financial pressure on households and businesses already struggling with electricity costs.
