Affordable Energy Critical to Nigeria’s Climate, Economy- Presidency
Mr Yusuf Kelani, Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters, says expanding access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy is critical to Nigeria’s climate ambitions, economic development and national resilience.
Kelani said this in Abuja on Wednesday, at a Solar Policy Roundtable themed: “Power, Access: Building Capacity for Affordable, Reliable Solar for Every Nigerian”.
He said clean, reliable energy remained an essential part of Nigeria’s climate response, adding that solar energy could support lower-carbon development, strengthen community resilience, and stimulate productive economic activities.
He noted that decentralised solar solutions could power irrigation, cold storage, and processing facilities in agriculture. He said such interventions can help reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmers’ incomes.
“Nigeria continues to face significant challenges in electricity access and reliability, with millions of households and businesses depending on alternative sources of power to meet their daily needs,” he said.
Kelani, however, said that growing adoption of solar energy demonstrates that Nigerians are actively seeking solutions to the country’s electricity challenges.
He said government’s responsibility was to ensure that policies, institutions and investments supported the growing momentum while making electricity more affordable, reliable and accessible to citizens.
Kelani said the central issue was not only increasing solar deployment but also expanding energy access while building a competitive and sustainable domestic solar industry.
He said that local solar manufacturing offered opportunities for job creation, technology transfer, skills development and investment.
He, however, said localisation policies must be carefully designed to strengthen domestic production without unintentionally increasing costs or limiting access to solar energy.
“A predictable, evidence-based and phased approach can help us achieve both objectives,” he said.
Kelani said the issue was particularly important as Nigeria prepared for changes in electricity pricing and subsidy arrangements from 2027.
He noted that as energy costs increasingly affected household welfare and business productivity, affordability must remain central to the country’s energy policy decisions.
He stressed the need for an inclusive energy transition that would enable rural communities, women, young people, small enterprises and vulnerable households to participate in and benefit from the opportunities created by renewable energy.
Kelani urged participants at the roundtable to focus on practical solutions, including accelerating decentralised energy deployment, mobilising investment and strengthening domestic solar value chains.
Mr Michael Terungwa, Executive Director, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), said local solar manufacturing and assembly capacity was growing, with further investments on the way.
According to him, the challenge is to create the right policy environment to sustain this momentum without compromising affordability, product quality or consumer protection.
He commended Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, on his recent policy position that Nigeria will not ban solar panel imports before developing sufficient domestic manufacturing capacity.
“As the minister rightly stated, ‘You can’t ban importation of solar panels if you do not have manufacturing capabilities in the country.’
“This is a pragmatic position. A premature import ban could increase prices, slow the adoption of solar energy and undermine access for households and businesses that urgently need reliable electricity,” he said.
Terungwa said the minister’s position aligns with a central recommendation of the solar policy brief.
According to him, any future import restrictions must be carefully sequenced against verifiable domestic production capacity, competitive pricing and effective quality certification.
“We commend the ministry and reaffirm our readiness through the solar power campaign to support policies that promote local industry while protecting Nigerians’ access to affordable, reliable and clean energy,” he said.
Prof. Nasir Isa, Director, Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainability Transitions, Bayero University, Kano, said participants would review the policy brief, critique it, and share their positions.
Isa said the outcome of the Kano and Lagos briefs would be presented and participants are expected to add their input. European Gas Prices Climb on LNG Supply Concerns
