Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government (FG) has announced plans to stop the importation of solar panels, emphasizing the need to promote local production and accelerate the country’s transition to renewable energy.
Speaking at the unveiling of the NEV T6 electric buses in Abuja, the Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, stated that the decision aligns with Presidential Executive Order No. 5, which seeks to encourage local content development in science, technology, and engineering.
According to Nnaji, Nigeria is already investing heavily in renewable energy infrastructure and has the capacity to meet its solar energy needs locally. He highlighted the role of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) as a key player in domestic solar panel production.
“With the expansion of local solar panel manufacturing, more Nigerian homes and institutions will transition to off-grid power solutions,” he added.
The minister also pointed out that Nigeria has an abundance of lithium, a critical component for solar batteries and electric vehicle (EV) storage systems. He assured that efforts were underway to process lithium locally, reducing reliance on imported battery components.
“We are adding value to our raw materials. The lithium we have here will be processed and used as batteries for solar energy storage and electric vehicles,” Nnaji explained.
When asked how Nigeria plans to tackle its power supply challenges to support electric vehicle adoption, Nnaji clarified that power generation is not the issue, but rather the sources of power being used.
“Today, if you look at our budget, we have what is called mini-grids all over the place. In less than four months, you will start seeing our hospitals and institutions powered by solar energy,” he said.
The government is focusing on non-carbon emission infrastructure to create sustainable energy solutions, eliminating dependence on diesel and petrol generators.
With NASENI already producing solar panels, and private investors entering the sector, the government believes it is time to completely halt solar panel importation.
“Through Presidential Executive Order No. 5, we will stop the importation of solar panels and support local industries to grow. Soon, most Nigerian households will go off-grid,” Nnaji assured.
He further revealed that he had personally been off-grid for over three years, using solar energy exclusively, and emphasized its effectiveness.
As part of efforts to expand clean energy adoption, the FG has launched a Credit Access for Light and Mobility Fund, in partnership with:
- The Ministry of Finance Incorporated
- The Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP)
- The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PI-CNG)
This initiative aims to provide affordable loans for solar panel adoption and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle conversions, reducing Nigeria’s reliance on fossil fuels.
