The Federal Government has ruled out an immediate ban on imported solar panels, warning that local manufacturers are not yet equipped to meet Nigeria’s demand for affordable renewable energy.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, said on Friday that the government would instead enforce quality standards for solar panels sold in the country, whether manufactured locally or imported from reliable sources.
The decision comes amid growing reliance on solar energy by households and businesses seeking alternatives to unreliable grid electricity and expensive petrol and diesel generators.
Speaking in an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority, Udeh said the government could not restrict imports without sufficient domestic production capacity.
“We can’t ban solar panel importation if we can’t produce locally,” he said, adding that the government wanted to ensure that only standard products were available in the Nigerian market.
He also cited the Renewed Hope Solarisation Project, which seeks to provide electricity to federal universities and other specialised institutions.
Data from Chinese customs cited by energy think tank Ember showed that China exported 2.4 gigawatts of solar panels to Nigeria in the 12 months to August 2026, valued at $269m.
Energy analysts estimate that generating an equivalent amount of electricity using diesel generators could cost about $980m annually, potentially making solar a cheaper option for households and businesses.
The decision has been welcomed by renewable energy stakeholders, who had warned that an immediate import ban could increase equipment prices, delay projects and slow the adoption of solar power.
The President of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria, Ayo Ademilua, said the industry supported local manufacturing but lacked the capacity to meet national demand in terms of both volume and price.
“Local production is growing, but it can’t yet meet that demand in volume or price. A ban now would have raised costs, stalled projects and put the progress of the last decade at risk,” he said.
Ademilua urged the government to support domestic manufacturers without making solar equipment unaffordable for consumers.
Similarly, the Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, David Michael, said Nigeria should not have to choose between developing a local solar industry and expanding access to affordable electricity.
“Nigeria shouldn’t have to choose between building a domestic solar industry and making clean energy affordable for its people,” he said.
Michael called for a long-term policy framework that would attract investment in local manufacturing while ensuring that households and businesses could continue to access affordable renewable energy.
The Nigeria Campaign Director of the Secure Energy Project, Joseph Ibrahim, also welcomed the decision, saying access to affordable solar equipment remained essential for millions of Nigerians facing unreliable electricity supply.
He urged the government to establish clear timelines, investment incentives and measurable targets to strengthen domestic manufacturing.
The debate over restricting solar imports dates back to March 2025, when former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Uche Nnaji proposed limiting imports to encourage local production.
Although the government had previously indicated that restrictions would not take effect until domestic manufacturers could meet demand, the absence of a formal policy resolution had continued to create uncertainty for industry operators.
Renewable energy advocates are now calling for a phased transition over three to five years to give local manufacturers time to expand production without disrupting access to affordable solar technology.
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