FG rules out immediate solar import ban until local production can meet demand

The Federal Government says it will not ban solar panel imports before Nigeria can produce enough equipment locally, keeping imported supplies available while domestic manufacturing expands.

Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Kingsley Udeh said the immediate priority was to ensure that panels sold in Nigeria meet quality standards, whether made locally or imported from reliable suppliers.

Udeh explained the position in an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority reported by Punch on Friday. He said local manufacturing capacity was growing but had not reached the point at which imports could be stopped.

“We can’t ban solar panel importation if we can’t produce locally,” he said.

The minister also referred to the government’s solarisation programme for federal universities and other academic institutions, saying it was intended to give them access to electricity.

Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria president Ayo Ademilua said the industry supported local production and that some members were investing in assembly and manufacturing. He cautioned, however, that local factories could not yet meet demand at the volume and prices consumers needed.

Ademilua said an immediate ban would have raised costs and stalled projects serving homes, hospitals, schools, farms and small businesses. He called for manufacturing support that would not make solar equipment unaffordable.

Chinese customs data cited by energy think tank Ember put solar panel shipments from China to Nigeria at 2.4 gigawatts in the 12 months to August 2026, valued at $269 million, according to Punch.

The import-restriction proposal dates to March 2025, when Udeh’s predecessor, Uche Nnaji, proposed limits to encourage local manufacturing. The Rural Electrification Agency subsequently said imports would not be restricted until domestic capacity could meet demand.

Renewable energy advocates are asking for a phased transition of three to five years, with published timelines, manufacturing incentives and measurable production targets.

Source: Punch