Nigeria Imports N435bn Solar Panels – NBS

Nigeria imported 2.9 million solar panels worth ₦435bn in 2025, reflecting a surge in demand as households and businesses sought alternatives to unreliable grid electricity.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed imports remained significant across all quarters, with values of ₦125bn in Q1, ₦117bn in Q2, ₦92bn in Q3, and ₦101bn in Q4.

The sharpest drop occurred in Q3, before demand rebounded in Q4 amid worsening blackouts.

Depending on panel size, import volumes varied widely. Large panels (400–600W) averaged ₦150,000 each, translating to 2.9m units.

Smaller panels (10–100W), priced around ₦25,000, suggested up to 17.4m units, while medium panels (150–300W) at ₦66,000 implied about 6.6m units.

The figures highlight growing adoption of entry-level solar solutions by low-income households and micro-enterprises, driven by persistent outages and rising fuel costs.

Government officials say Nigeria now has 600MW of installed solar module manufacturing capacity, up from 110MW, with plants in Lagos, Abuja, Idu, and Port Harcourt.

“Nigeria now has the capacity to produce solar panels locally and support the transition to clean energy,” said REA MD Abba Aliyu.

Despite this, imports remain dominant, with China as the leading supplier, accounting for ₦88bn in Q2, ₦75bn in Q3, and ₦101bn in Q4. Solar panels ranked among Nigeria’s top imports, placing 11th in Q1 and 13th in Q3.

The surge reflects frustration with Nigeria’s fragile power sector, where generation often falls below 5,000MW for over 200m people.

Frequent grid collapses and gas supply constraints have worsened outages, prompting Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu to apologise, calling the situation “regrettable.”

Analysts warn that without major investment in grid infrastructure, transmission, and gas supply, Nigeria will continue to see consumers migrate to solar, signalling both progress in clean energy adoption and a vote of no confidence in the national grid.