- Nigeria imported 110 MW of solar cells versus 82 MW of finished panels in October 2025, signalling a shift toward domestic solar assembly and local value creation.
- Government reforms, the Nigeria Renewable Energy Innovation Forum, and NREIF-facilitated deals are driving investment and enabling Nigeria to export panels.
Nigeria is boosting its domestic solar industry as imports of finished panels decline and local manufacturing increases, according to the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). In October 2025, the country brought in 110 MW of solar cells for local assembly, compared with 82 MW of fully assembled panels.
REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu called the milestone a “historic industrial shift.” He said it marks the first time in Nigeria’s history that solar cell imports for assembly surpassed finished panel imports. He added that the local assembly keeps 60–70% of the value in the country through components, labour and logistics.
Furthermore, Aliyu mentioned the development follows the inaugural Nigeria Renewable Energy Innovation Forum (NREIF) in October, themed “Implementing the Nigeria First Policy.” Between January and November 2025, Nigeria imported more solar cells for local assembly than in all previous years combined, he noted.
He credited the growth to government reforms under President Bola Tinubu, which promote local content and investor confidence, as well as interventions by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu. Aliyu stated that the NREIF facilitated nearly $500 million in manufacturing and supply chain deals.
In addition, he stated that the alignment of policy, reforms and market readiness is driving Nigeria’s clean energy industrialisation. The country recently exported solar panels to Ghana, highlighting its expanding domestic capacity.