Nigeria begins exportation of solar panels — REA
Nigeria has recorded a major economic breakthrough in its renewable energy sector, as locally manufactured solar panels are now being exported to Ghana following a sharp reduction in the importation of finished photovoltaic (PV) panels.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Managing Director, Abba Aliyu Abubakar, disclosed this on Wednesday during a media chat in Kano, describing the development as a strong indicator of Nigeria’s growing industrial capacity and economic diversification.
Abubakar said that for the first time in the country’s history, official trade data in October showed a decline in the importation of fully assembled solar panels, while imports of solar components such as wafers surged—signalling a shift from consumption to local production.
“This is a very strong economic indicator. It shows that we are no longer importing finished products but assembling and manufacturing them locally, creating jobs, expanding the tax base and increasing revenue for the country,” he said.
According to him, one of the companies partnering with REA and operating a manufacturing plant in Lagos has already begun exporting Made-in-Nigeria solar panels to Ghana, marking Nigeria’s entry into the regional renewable energy export market.
SolaceBase reports that the managing director attributed the progress to the Federal Government’s localisation policy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises domestic manufacturing, job creation and industrial growth.
Abubakar revealed that Nigeria’s renewable energy manufacturing capacity has grown from about 120 megawatts to over 600 megawatts within a short period, with more than three gigawatts of additional projects currently in the pipeline across the country.
He added that investments worth over $435 million have been secured for new renewable energy manufacturing facilities in Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Kano and Abuja, following agreements signed at the maiden Nigerian Renewable Energy Innovation Forum hosted by REA.
Beyond manufacturing, the REA boss said the agency is implementing the $750 million Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) project, the world’s largest publicly funded renewable energy initiative, aimed at deploying 1,350 mini-grids to provide electricity to about 17.5 million Nigerians.
He explained that the mini-grid expansion, alongside local manufacturing, is designed to reduce foreign exchange pressure, deepen private sector participation and stimulate inclusive economic growth.
Abubakar also said discussions are ongoing with international development finance institutions, including the African Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank, to mobilise additional funding required to close Nigeria’s electricity access gap, estimated at about $23 billion.
He assured that the agency remains committed to ensuring a sustainable power supply for rural and underserved communities while positioning Nigeria as a renewable energy manufacturing hub in West Africa.
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