- Energy experts called for affordable financing, stronger quality control and phased localisation to strengthen Nigeria’s solar industry.
- Stakeholders urged the government to expand technical training and ensure solar energy benefits households, farmers and vulnerable communities.
Energy experts and policymakers have urged the Federal Government to provide low-interest loans and stronger policy support for local solar manufacturers. They made the call at the Abuja Solar Policy Roundtable, organised by the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) and the Solar Power Nigeria Campaign.
The stakeholders also called for stronger quality control and a phased localisation policy. They said Nigeria must expand domestic manufacturing without making solar products unaffordable for households and businesses.
GIFSEP Executive Director and Solar Power Nigeria Campaign co-convener, Dr Michael T. David, described solar energy as a practical solution to Nigeria’s unreliable electricity supply. He noted that millions of Nigerians still depend on petrol and diesel generators, which increase operating costs for households and businesses.
David commended the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, for stating that Nigeria would not ban solar panel imports before developing sufficient domestic manufacturing capacity, dailytrust reports.
“The solar sector is too important to be left with fragmented oversight and inconsistent standards,” David said.
He identified skills development, local manufacturing and assembly, and quality assurance as three priorities for building a sustainable solar industry.
David also called for technician certification and continuous training. He urged stakeholders to equip generator technicians with the skills required to install and maintain solar systems.
He further advocated predictable government policies, accessible financing and stronger coordination among regulatory and standards institutions. These include the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), within their respective mandates.
The Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters, Comrade Yussuf Olatunji Kelani, described affordable and reliable energy as essential to Nigeria’s economic development, climate objectives and resilience.
Kelani said solar energy could address electricity challenges while supporting agricultural activities. He highlighted its potential to power irrigation, food storage and processing.
He added that wider access to solar power could lower farmers’ operating costs, reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen food security.
Kelani stressed that Nigeria’s energy transition must benefit ordinary citizens. He specifically identified young people, women and vulnerable communities as groups that should benefit from expanding access to clean energy.