Stakeholders in Nigeria’s energy sector have called on the federal government to reconsider any immediate ban on the importation of solar panels, warning that such a move could worsen the country’s already critical electricity deficit.
Speaking at a two-day training on energy reporting in Abuja Monday, energy experts and advocates stated that while local manufacturing of solar panels is a desirable goal, Nigeria lacks the infrastructure and capacity to sustain an outright ban at this time.
Nigeria Campaign Director of Secure Energy Project, Joseph Ibrahim, described energy as a fundamental driver of economic growth, noting that the country’s current electricity generation of about 5,000 megawatts translates to roughly 24.5 watts per person.
“This is barely enough to power a light bulb per citizen,” he said, adding that over 85 million Nigerians still lack access to electricity.
“Solar energy has moved from being a luxury to a necessity for homes and businesses,” he said.
Ibrahim warned that restricting solar imports without first building a viable local manufacturing base would be counterproductive. He likened industrial development to planting a forest, stating the need for stable policies, financing frameworks and quality control systems.
“We want local production, but we must first create the right environment. You cannot force growth overnight,” he said.