Renewables
Nigeria drops immediate solar panel import ban
The federal government has reversed its plan to immediately halt solar panel imports following pushback from industry stakeholders over local manufacturing capacity constraints.
Key points
- Federal government abandons immediate ban on solar panel imports.
- Earlier proposal by previous minister aimed to boost local manufacturing.
- Experts warned domestic production capacity falls short of national demand.
- Government aims to attract global manufacturers through technology transfer.
What happened
The federal government has stepped back from plans to immediately prohibit the importation of solar panels, according to announcements by Kingsley Udeh, minister of innovation, science and technology. The shift follows widespread concerns raised by business leaders and renewable energy advocates that an abrupt ban would inflate costs and restrict clean energy access.
The policy marks a departure from a March 2025 announcement by Udeh's predecessor, Uche Nnaji, who had proposed halting imports to stimulate local manufacturing through agencies such as the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
Why it matters
Energy experts had cautioned that Nigeria's domestic manufacturing capacity is currently too small to meet national needs without causing severe market disruptions. Deborah Fadeyi, founder of Vectar Energy, noted in May 2025 that Nigeria's sole operational manufacturing plant in Lagos produced less than 20 megawatts, falling drastically short of the capacity required to support the country's solar targets.
Data from Ember shows that China exported 2.4 gigawatts of solar panels to Nigeria in the 12 months leading to August 2026, valued at $269 million. Analysts estimate that utilizing solar power instead of diesel generators yields significant financial savings for households and businesses grappling with unreliable grid electricity.
What comes next
Udeh stated that the ministry is focusing on attracting global solar technology firms to establish domestic operations through skills development and technology transfer. The government also intends to enforce quality standards for all solar panels in the market, whether locally produced or imported. Meanwhile, renewable energy advocates have urged authorities to outline a clear, phased transition plan with proper incentives for domestic producers.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
27.8% of electricity in the world was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
