The Federal government is working to expand Nigeria’s domestic solar panel manufacturing capacity before considering restrictions on imports, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, has said.
The minister said the government was pursuing partnerships with foreign manufacturers to establish local production capacity, insisting that Nigeria must be able to manufacture solar panels before banning their importation.
“You can’t ban importation of solar panels if you do not have manufacturing capabilities in the country,” Udeh said during a media briefing.
The development was welcomed by the Solar Power Nigeria Campaign, in partnership with the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), which said expanding domestic production before restricting imports would protect access to affordable solar energy while supporting local industrialisation.
According to the organisations, an immediate import ban could increase the cost of solar panels and make alternative electricity less accessible to households, businesses and public institutions that rely on solar power.
The minister said the government is engaging potential investors to establish solar manufacturing facilities in Nigeria, including through discussions with Turkish companies.
He disclosed that following engagements initiated during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Turkey, he travelled to the country this month to attract major solar manufacturers to invest in Nigeria.
Memoranda of Understanding are expected to be signed with prospective partners, according to the statement issued by the Solar Power Nigeria Campaign and GIFSEP on Friday.
The government is also developing mechanisms to prevent substandard solar panels and components from entering the Nigerian market, while ensuring that products manufactured locally or imported from reliable sources meet acceptable quality standards.
Udeh said locally manufactured panels could become more affordable because they would not attract the same shipping costs and import duties associated with foreign products.
He added that government support would help improve affordability.
The initiative also includes skills development through the Barefoot Renewable Energy College, which was commissioned last month to train artisans in solar manufacturing and installation.
The government expects an expanded pool of skilled workers to improve installation standards and help reduce the cost of solar products and services.
The minister said the Renewed Hope Solarisation Project was moving federal institutions, including academic institutions, away from reliance on the national electricity grid towards solar power through the Energy Commission of Nigeria.
Nigeria’s limited electricity supply has increased the importance of alternative energy sources, with households and businesses relying on petrol and diesel generators to bridge supply gaps.
The Solar Power Nigeria Campaign and GIFSEP noted that the national grid supplies approximately 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts of electricity to a population of more than 200 million people, leaving millions of consumers dependent on alternative power sources.
They warned that restricting solar panel imports before local manufacturers could meet domestic demand could raise prices and undermine efforts to expand electricity access.
The organisations said the minister’s approach aligned with recommendations made by renewable energy stakeholders at engagements held earlier this year.
At an April media training on renewable energy reporting organised by GIFSEP,
Commenting on the government’s approach, GIFSEP’s Founder and Executive Director,Michael Terungwa David, said building manufacturing capacity before restricting imports would protect consumers while creating opportunities for domestic industry.
“We commend the Honourable Minister for listening to stakeholders and choosing a path that puts Nigerians first. Building manufacturing capacity before closing the door to imports is the right sequence,” David said.
He said the focus on quality standards and training through the Barefoot Renewable Energy College could help address challenges associated with substandard solar products and poor installation.
David, however, urged the government to publish a clear, time-bound roadmap for expanding local manufacturing and gradually replacing imports, developed in consultation with industry operators and civil society organisations.
He also called for incentives and affordable financing for manufacturers, installers and households, alongside stricter enforcement of quality standards in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.
- Media Report