The Federal Government has secured nearly $500 million in partnership with state governors and private investors to establish solar manufacturing plants across Nigeria, in a major step toward boosting local renewable energy production.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this known at the ongoing Nigeria Energy Conference in Lagos, where he also revealed that Nigeria has begun exporting locally produced solar panels to Ghana, a significant milestone for the country’s renewable energy sector.
Adelabu said the agreements, concluded during the Nigerian Renewable Energy Innovation Forum organised by the Rural Electrification Agency, would deliver about 4 gigawatts of solar manufacturing capacity per year, representing nearly 80 percent of Nigeria’s current total power generation capacity.
He explained that the deals would promote the domestic production of solar panels, batteries, and meters, reducing import dependence and positioning Nigeria as a key player in the regional renewable energy market. He added that companies involved in the production chain would receive government support to scale up operations.
“With this scale of renewable energy production coming online, Nigeria is not only on course to meet its clean energy transition targets but also to serve as a regional power hub,” Adelabu said. “We have already started with the export of Nigerian-made solar panels to Ghana last month, and this is just the beginning. Our goal is to make Nigeria the renewable energy hub for West Africa and eventually the entire continent.”
The minister noted that the initiative would generate employment, boost foreign exchange earnings, and accelerate the expansion of solar energy infrastructure nationwide. He emphasized that youth training and empowerment in renewable energy technologies would be critical to sustaining these gains.
Adelabu also assured investors of a stable business climate, saying the government is prioritizing private sector participation, especially in power transmission. “Nigeria’s power sector is more open for business than ever before. The government is committed to ensuring a conducive environment where investors can safely recover their capital and returns,” he said.
Supporting this position, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, said the agency is focused on promoting local manufacturing of renewable energy components to cut import costs. “Over N200 billion has been spent on importing solar PV panels into the country. Our goal is to change that narrative by driving domestic production, with Lagos leading the effort,” he said.
The $500 million solar manufacturing initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s position in Africa’s renewable energy market while supporting economic growth and industrial development.
