Nigeria records shift in local solar manufacturing, imports more solar cells than panels for first time

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Presidency has announced a historic milestone in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.

In a post on Monday via X, the Presidency claimed that for the first time ever, in October 2025, Nigeria imported more solar cells—110MW—than finished solar panels, which totaled 82MW.

This marked a significant shift from reliance on imported finished panels to increased local manufacturing of solar technology.

The statement highlighted the influence of key policies and initiatives: “The milestone reflects the impact of the Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria First Policy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, supported by power sector reforms and the Nigeria Renewable Energy Innovation Forum, which helped unlock nearly 500 million dollars in manufacturing and supply chain investments.”

This development is expected to boost Nigeria’s renewable energy capacity and create economic opportunities within the local solar manufacturing value chain.