ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Nigeria’s worsening electricity supply challenges have continued to fuel a surge in solar energy adoption, with fresh data showing that the country imported 2.9 million solar panels valued at over N435bn in 2025.
The figures also rank solar panels among Nigeria’s top imported commodities, even as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to boost local production, according to the latest Foreign Trade Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics.
The data shows that solar panel imports remained substantial across all four quarters of the year, highlighting a growing shift by households and businesses toward alternative power sources amid persistent blackouts.
A breakdown indicates that photovoltaic cells assembled in modules or made into panels worth N125.29bn were imported in the first quarter, N117.39bn in the second quarter, N92.00bn in the third quarter, and N100.83bn in the fourth quarter.
Imports declined by 6.3 per cent from N125.29bn in the first quarter to N117.39bn in the second quarter, suggesting an early slowdown in demand or possible inventory adjustments.
The decline deepened in the third quarter, dropping by 21.6 per cent from N117.39bn in Q2 to N92.00bn, marking the sharpest contraction within the year.
However, the trend reversed in the fourth quarter, with imports rising by 9.6 per cent to N100.83bn, indicating renewed demand, likely driven by worsening power supply and increased year-end installations.
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Overall, this reflects a 26.6 per cent decline from the peak in Q1 to the lowest point in Q3, followed by a partial recovery in Q4.
Cumulatively, total solar panel imports in 2025 stood at approximately N435.52bn.
Analysis of the figures suggests that an estimated 2.9 million solar panels were imported during the year, based on an average cost of N150,000 per unit derived from a market survey.
Further evaluation shows that the estimated volume varies significantly depending on panel capacity and pricing.
At the high end, using an average cost of N150,000 per unit for large panels (400W–600W+), the total import value of N435.52bn translates to about 2.9 million units.
For smaller, more affordable panels commonly used by low-income households, the volume is considerably higher.
Using an average cost of about N25,000 per unit for small panels (10W–100W), the same import value suggests that as many as 17.4 million units may have been imported.
Similarly, for medium-sized panels (150W–300W), widely used by small businesses and residential consumers, an average price of N66,000 per unit indicates that approximately 6.6 million units were imported during the period.
The wide variation in estimated volumes underscores the increasing penetration of entry-level solar solutions in Nigeria, as households and micro-enterprises turn to more affordable and scalable alternatives to cope with persistent electricity shortages.
The Federal Government has recently stepped up efforts to reduce reliance on imported solar panels, maintaining that Nigeria now has the capacity to drive local manufacturing.
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The Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, stated that Nigeria’s installed solar module manufacturing capacity has risen to 600 megawatts, up from 110 megawatts previously.
He identified key facilities, including a 100MW plant in Lagos, a 250MW facility in Abuja, and others in Idu and Port Harcourt, as part of the localisation drive.
According to him, over 50 renewable energy service companies are now operating in Nigeria, compared to about 10 a few years ago.
“We are changing the narrative,” Aliyu said. “Nigeria now has the capacity to produce solar panels locally and support the transition to clean energy.”
However, recent figures suggest that the push for local production has yet to deliver the desired impact.
The report also shows that solar panels consistently ranked among Nigeria’s top imports throughout the year.
In the first quarter, they accounted for 0.81 per cent of total imports, ranking 11th; this slipped to 0.77 per cent in the second quarter, placing 12th, and further declined to 0.57 per cent in the third quarter, ranking 13th.
China remained the leading source of solar panel imports into Nigeria. In the second quarter alone, imports from China were valued at N88.60bn, followed by N75.34bn in the third quarter, while the fourth quarter recorded imports worth N100.83bn from the country.