Nigeria has taken a significant step in its renewable-energy journey by exporting solar panels manufactured domestically to Ghana. The announcement was made by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during the Nigeria Energy Forum in Lagos.
According to Adelabu, the shipment marks the country’s entry into regional renewable-energy markets, indicating that Nigeria is not just focusing on meeting its own energy transition targets, but also preparing to supply solar technology across West Africa.
The minister highlighted that new solar-panel manufacturing capacity in Nigeria is being scaled up, citing a potential annual production capacity of up to four gigawatts.
He further emphasised that accelerating private-sector investment, together with regulatory reforms and incentives, is key to strengthening Nigeria’s position as a solar-technology hub.
The export to Ghana comes at a time when Nigeria remains heavily dependent on solar imports, despite the growth in local manufacturing. Industry stakeholders report that around 80-90 % of solar-component inputs in Nigeria are still imported.
By beginning exports of locally-made solar panels, Nigeria hopes to reduce foreign-exchange demands caused by imports of solar technology, create jobs in manufacturing, and strengthen the industrial base of its power sector.
This development signals a potential shift in Nigeria’s role, from being primarily a consumer of solar panels to becoming a regional supplier and manufacturing-centre for renewable-energy technology.
