The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has unveiled plans to strengthen local solar manufacturing as part of efforts to improve electricity access for millions of Nigerians who still struggle with unreliable power supply. The agency said the initiative is aimed at reducing the country’s heavy reliance on imported solar equipment while creating jobs, building technical expertise and supporting the growth of Nigeria’s renewable energy industry. The move comes at a time when more than 85 million Nigerians, almost 40 percent of the population, still do not enjoy reliable electricity despite several government interventions.
Speaking during the signing of a Joint Development Agreement between the REA and Ecotech Development Nigeria Limited in Abuja, the Managing Director of the agency, Abba Aliyu, described the partnership as an important step toward making Nigeria a producer of solar technology instead of depending largely on imports .He said, “Over 85 million Nigerians, close to 40 per cent of our population, still lack reliable access to grid electricity. REA exists to close that gap.”
According to him, Nigeria has spent years providing the demand for solar products while other countries supplied the technology and earned the economic benefits.
“Nigeria supplied the roof, the need and the market, while someone else supplied the technology and equipment.”
Aliyu noted that this pattern has limited the country’s ability to create jobs, develop local technical skills and retain valuable foreign exchange. He explained that encouraging local production would allow Nigeria to capture more value from the growing renewable energy market while expanding electricity access to homes, schools, hospitals and businesses.The REA believes the partnership with Ecotech Development Nigeria Limited will help establish a stronger manufacturing base for solar equipment in Nigeria. This is expected to support the Federal Government’s broader energy transition agenda and improve the availability of locally made solar products for future electrification projects.
Industry observers say local manufacturing could also reduce the cost and delivery time of solar equipment over the long term, although achieving these goals will require sustained investment, supportive policies and reliable infrastructure.Nigeria continues to face one of the world’s largest electricity access challenges. While the REA has expanded electricity supply through programmes such as the Rural Electrification Fund, the Nigerian Electrification Project and the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale Up Project, millions of households and businesses still depend on generators or have little or no access to power.
By promoting local solar manufacturing, the agency hopes to address both the country’s energy shortage and its industrial development needs. If successfully implemented, the initiative could help improve electricity access, encourage investment in clean energy and strengthen Nigeria’s position in Africa’s growing renewable energy sector.
