Abuja: Nigeria is not prepared for a blanket ban on solar panel imports, experts in the environment and energy sector have said. They shared these insights during the National Stakeholders Engagement Workshop on Accelerating Nigeria’s Clean Energy Transition in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Michael David, the Executive-Director of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), highlighted that solar energy represents a crucial avenue out of energy poverty for Nigeria. He explained that despite Nigeria’s abundant energy resources, the nation still grapples with significant energy poverty. “Nigeria is faced with widespread energy poverty, severe electricity access deficit, chronic power shortages, persistent energy inequality, and limited access to reliable electricity,” Dr. David noted. He emphasized that banning solar imports would exacerbate these issues and hinder both households and businesses.
Dr. David argued for a more nuanced approach to energy policy that includes incentives for local solar production, promotes local assembly and manufacturing, and ensures affordable financing for clean energy systems. “Let’s get some basic things right before a blanket ban,” he urged, pointing out Nigeria’s significant electricity access deficit despite being one of Africa’s largest economies.
Dr. David cited a study by Nigeria’s World Data that underscores the electricity shortfall. The study revealed that billions globally have insufficient electricity to power an air conditioner for just one hour. In Nigeria alone, 86.8 million people lack access to electricity, the highest number worldwide, according to a World Bank 2025 report.
The enactment of the Electricity Act 2023, Dr. David noted, marks a significant policy shift aimed at restructuring Nigeria’s electricity sector. The act promotes decentralized generation, incentivizes renewable energy investment, and provides state governments with greater regulatory authority over electricity supply.
Rep. Terseer Ugbor, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, also emphasized the necessity of solar energy in Nigeria due to frequent power failures. “I imagine a Nigeria where every home has electric power,” Ugbor stated, advocating for the economic and developmental benefits of solar energy. He warned that an abrupt restriction on solar panel imports, without sufficient local capacity, could negatively impact rural communities and essential services like healthcare.