Nigeria has overtaken Egypt to become Africa’s second-largest importer of solar panels, behind only South Africa, according to data published by Global energy think tank Ember. But while the numbers suggest momentum, the reality on the ground is more complex.

Petrol prices keep rising. But the future of Nigerian transport is being built on the sun, not the pump. If you live in Lagos or Abuja, you have probably already seen the early signs. Electric motorcycles weaving through traffic. An electric BRT bus glides past its diesel counterpart on a dedicated lane.

The initiative is designed to improve electricity access in underserved areas. It includes plans to develop 315 mini-grids, with a total project cost estimated at $271 million. These installations are expected to connect about 2.9 million people, including nearly 500,000 households and businesses.

Nigerians are used to being in the dark. While hope remains that someday every street in the country will be illuminated by grid power, Nigerians have moved on to solar power. They are done sleeping in the dark with hopes that the lights will come on.

Nigeria’s decentralised electricity market, enabled by the Electricity Act 2023, is critical to delivering reliable and affordable power, the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said, warning that effective implementation will determine the success of ongoing reforms.

Society for Family Health (SFH), a non-govermental organisation, has enhanced Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) access in rural communities with the inauguration of two solar-powered boreholes in Toto Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State.

The Executive Director, Global Initiative Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), Mr. Michael David, has said that the banning of solar imports will be counterproductive given the country’s manufacturing capacity.

Nigeria has attracted about $425m in investments in 2025 for the establishment of eight renewable energy manufacturing facilities as part of efforts to scale up local production of solar panels and position the country as a regional hub for clean energy manufacturing in West Africa.

Nigeria has likewise intensified efforts to deepen access to local renewable energy manufacturing by increasing production capacity from 120 megawatts two years ago to approximately 300 megawatts in 2026, reaffirming the country’s position as a regional manufacturing hub.