The Federal Government has said tha the importation of photovoltaic solar panels has cost Nigeria N200bn so far.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, who disclosed this Monday at a roundtable held in Victoria Island between the REA and the Lagos State Government, emphasized the need for Nigeria to stop the importation of the solar panels.
He also hinted that efforts are in top gear to change the narrative and domesticate the manufacturing of renewable equipment in the country.
He added:“Over N200bn has been spent on the importation of PV panels into the country.
“While there is a need for that importation, one of the key things our agency is striving for is domesticating the manufacturing of this renewable equipment. Lagos, being the centre of excellence, is going to lead a total war in that domestication.”
He stated the agency has already crystallised the emergence of PV panel manufacturing plants in Lagos.
“There was a PV panel manufacturing assembly plant in Ikotun, Lagos.
“They started with 10 megawatts, but with the collaboration with REA, they have moved and increased their capacity to an additional 100 megawatts,” he added
He disclosed that the agency is in the process of signing a joint development agreement with Green World for a lithium battery assembly plant in Lagos.
