Abuja: Nigeria is facing the paradox of abundant energy resources and widespread energy poverty in spite of being Africa’s largest economy. Dr Michael David, the Executive Director of Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, millions of Nigerians lack reliable electricity, forcing households and businesses to depend on petrol and diesel generators. The World Bank estimated that 86.8 million Nigerians would be living without electricity by the end of 2025. Dr David noted that the rapid adoption of solar energy indicated its practicality for households, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, and government institutions seeking reliable electricity.
Dr David acknowledged progress in lithium battery manufacturing, local solar panel assembly, and the development of critical minerals. However, he stated that Nigeria’s current production capacity remains insufficient to satisfy domestic demand. He advocated for a phased industrialisation strategy that combines expanded renewable energy access with stronger local manufacturing.
Dr David called for incentives, affordable financing, technical training, research, and improved quality standards. He mentioned that the Electricity Act 2023 had created opportunities for state governments to expand electricity generation and renewable energy development through decentralised energy systems. He emphasised the necessity for policies that attract investment, strengthen regulation, protect consumers, and promote local industrial development as the renewable energy sector continues to grow.
Dr David said that experts in the renewable energy sector agree that the Federal Government must develop a National Renewable Energy Industrialisation Roadmap to strengthen local manufacturing and expand access to affordable solar energy nationwide. This position was agreed upon after a dialogue organised by the Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainability Transition (CREST), Bayero University, Kano, in collaboration with GIFSEP. Participants, drawn from government, academia, the private sector, financial institutions, and civil society, stated that the roadmap would provide a strategic framework for the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s clean energy industry.
They also called for increased investment in technical education, research, innovation, and technology commercialisation to strengthen local manufacturing capacity and support the growth of Nigeria’s renewable energy industry. The experts recommended that any future restriction on solar panel imports should be introduced gradually and only after Nigeria develops sufficient local manufacturing and assembly capacity to meet domestic demand.