Nigeria has no reason to continue importing solar power products when it has the necessary critical minerals to produce them locally, Dr. Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, has said.

Speaking at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa, Alake underscores the urgent need for Nigeria to stop importing solar components, and focus on developing a domestic solar manufacturing industry.

The Minister’s comment follows Nigeria’s latest achievement in securing a UN-backed study to create a roadmap for Nigeria’s critical minerals value chain, funded by the Global Council for Critical Minerals.

“Since we have the materials for the production of solar power, we should vigorously pursue the policy of stopping the importation of solar power products and localise the production in Nigeria,” Dr Alake says.

“We have a large market. Already, a lot of the products in Nigeria service the West African sub-region. So, whatever material we are producing or manufacturing has a ready West African market.”

The study, to be conducted by UC Davis with support from Core International, will assess Nigeria’s critical mineral reserves, set international standards for value addition, and establish a framework for local solar panel and component production.

Minister on building Nigeria’s solar power industry

Dr. Alake explains that ending imports and boosting local production of solar power products will:

• Save Foreign Exchange: Nigeria currently spends billions importing solar power products. Producing them locally will reduce dependence on foreign markets.

• Develop the Manufacturing Sector: A solar production industry will create jobs, attract investments, and drive economic growth.

• Ensure Energy Security: Locally made solar panels will increase energy access and make renewable power more affordable.

Creating a Business-Friendly Environment

The Minister assures investors that the FG is committed to ensuring a safe and profitable investment climate for solar power production.

“We are putting in place a new security architecture,” Dr. Alake says, “that will ensure not just the safety of the investor, but also the protection of the mining environment. We also had to re-draw the Community Development Agreement to ensure that the local populace benefits maximally from these developments, so that at the end of the day, it is a win-win for the investor, the populace, and the State.”

International recognition for Nigeria’s Renewable Energy Plans

Divyam Nagpal, Principal Specialist, Renewable Energy at Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), notes that the critical minerals roadmap will play a key role in shaping Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.

He also invited Alake to the Sustainable Energy for All Programme in Barbados, an event focused on energy equity, security, and prosperity.