• REA pushes for local manufacturing
By Abdullahi Lukman
Over N200 billion has been spent on the importation of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels into Nigeria, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, disclosed on Monday.
Aliyu made the disclosure during a roundtable in Victoria Island, Lagos, held between the REA and the Lagos State government when both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the electrification of rural communities in the state.
He described the heavy reliance on imported renewable energy components as unsustainable and emphasized the agency’s commitment to promoting local manufacturing of solar equipment.
“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 said.
Aliyu announced that the REA has already supported the growth of a PV panel assembly plant in Ikotun, Lagos. The plant, which began operations with a 10-megawatt capacity, has expanded to 100 megawatts with the agency’s backing.
In a further move to boost local production, the REA is also finalizing a joint development agreement with Green World for a lithium battery assembly plant in Lagos.
The investment is valued at $150 million and is expected to significantly bolster the renewable energy value chain within the country.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce dependence on imports, create jobs, and build a sustainable renewable energy industry in Nigeria, starting with Lagos as the lead driver.