Lagos Solar Forum: Presidency Seeks Massive Investment in Renewable Energy, Local Manufacturing
The Presidency has called on government, investors, development partners, entrepreneurs and young Nigerians to intensify investments in renewable energy and local manufacturing to accelerate the country’s transition to clean energy, tackle energy poverty and unlock new opportunities for economic growth and job creation.
The call was made at the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation ,GIFSEP, Solar Forum held in Lagos under the theme, “Building Consensus for Nigeria’s Just Energy Transition Future,” with discussions centred on improving energy access through solar and renewable energy.
The high-level dialogue, convened under the Solar Power Nigeria Coalition, brought together government officials, industry leaders, development partners, climate advocates and young innovators to chart a sustainable pathway for Nigeria’s renewable energy future.
In a keynote address, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Climate Technology and Operations, Prof. Olamide Fagbuji, said the administration’s commitment to renewable energy extends beyond improving electricity supply to protecting the environment, boosting industrialisation, creating jobs and enhancing food security.
He urged Nigerian professionals, entrepreneurs, technicians and particularly the youth to seize emerging opportunities in the country’s growing solar energy economy by taking advantage of the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms.
“Our foremost challenge is to eradicate energy poverty while simultaneously pursuing sustainable economic growth,” Fagbuji said.
He noted that although significant reforms are underway, nearly half of Nigerians still lack reliable electricity, while millions of homes and businesses continue to depend on expensive diesel generators, a situation that limits productivity, discourages investment and raises production costs.
According to him, Nigeria possesses enormous solar energy potential because of its high solar irradiation, stressing that the country’s challenge is no longer whether renewable energy is feasible but how quickly the right policies, investments and partnerships can translate that potential into improved livelihoods.
“The question before us is no longer whether renewable energy is technically feasible. The question is how quickly we can mobilise the right policies, investments, institutions and partnerships to translate this enormous potential into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians,” he stated.
Fagbuji described the Electricity Act 2023 as a landmark reform that has decentralised electricity governance, empowered states to establish electricity markets and opened new opportunities for private sector investment in renewable energy.
He disclosed that programmes such as the Nigeria Electrification Project and the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up ,DARES, Programme have already attracted more than 1.3 billion dollars in investment commitments while expanding electricity access to millions of Nigerians.
The presidential aide emphasised that reliable energy is fundamental to manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, digital services and national productivity, noting that decentralised renewable energy projects are already transforming underserved communities.
On food security, he warned that Nigeria loses between 30 and 40 million metric tonnes of food annually due to post-harvest losses, largely because many rural communities lack reliable electricity for storage and processing.
“Energy security and food security are fundamentally interconnected. A nation cannot sustainably feed its population without reliable energy,” he said, adding that solar-powered irrigation systems, cold rooms and agro-processing centres could significantly reduce food losses while increasing farmers’ incomes.
Fagbuji also urged Nigeria to leverage the rapidly expanding global clean energy market by promoting local manufacturing of solar panels, batteries, inverters and other renewable energy technologies rather than depending largely on imports.
“Nigeria must therefore position itself as a producer, assembler and exporter of renewable energy technologies through deliberate industrial policy,” he said.
He further advocated investments in research, innovation, artificial intelligence, technical education and recycling of solar panels and batteries to support industrialisation and create skilled jobs.
Addressing concerns over reports that the Presidency planned to ban solar panel imports, Fagbuji dismissed the claim as false, insisting that the Federal Government had never contemplated such a policy.
He explained that government efforts are focused on standardising the sector to eliminate substandard products, improve professionalism and align the renewable energy industry with the Renewed Hope Agenda on job creation and economic empowerment.
“This dialogue could not have come at a better time. The frequency of climate-related challenges is increasing and there is an urgent need to accelerate the transition to clean energy,” he said.
Earlier, the Executive Director of GIFSEP, Dr. Michael Terungwa David, called on the Federal Government to regulate Nigeria’s solar energy manufacturing and installation industry to improve quality standards, protect consumers and encourage sustainable growth.
He urged government to remove barriers hindering solar technology deployment while introducing stricter regulations to curb the influx of substandard products and the activities of unqualified installers.
David noted that several fire outbreaks linked to poorly installed solar systems underscore the urgent need for stronger quality control and enforcement of industry standards.
He added that expanding access to affordable solar energy would not only help address Nigeria’s electricity challenges but also strengthen food security through improved agricultural productivity.
Also speaking, Senior Director of the Secure Energy Project, Chris Kif, said Nigeria presents enormous opportunities for renewable energy investment but stressed the need for greater collaboration and consensus among stakeholders to maximise impact.
He noted that his organisation’s experience in advancing clean energy solutions globally has shown that Nigeria has one of the continent’s most promising renewable energy markets.
The forum featured panel discussions and technical presentations highlighting the role of solar energy in expanding electricity access, stimulating economic development, reducing carbon emissions and supporting Nigeria’s transition to a resilient and sustainable economy.
