Energy experts, industry stakeholders and civil society actors have cautioned the Federal Government against an outright ban on the importation of solar panels.

They warned that such a move could worsen energy poverty and make electricity access unaffordable for millions of Nigerians.

The experts gave the warning during a media training on renewable energy reporting organised by the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) in collaboration with the Secure Energy Project and Power Shift Africa.

The Federal Government had announced the need to end the importation of photovoltaic solar panels into Nigeria, saying this has cost N200bn so far.

But the experts instead advocated a phased transition spanning three to five years to allow local manufacturing capacity to develop without disrupting access to solar power.

Speaking at the event, Nigeria Campaign Director of the Secure Energy Project and member of the Solar Power Nigeria Coalition, Joseph Ibrahim, warned that a sudden policy shift could have unintended consequences for households and small businesses that depend heavily on solar energy.

“We believe the best way forward is not a sudden shut-door policy, but a phased roadmap over the next three to five years. If we rush this, we risk making solar power too expensive for the millions who currently rely on it for survival,” he said.

Ibrahim stressed that while local manufacturing remains a desirable goal, it must grow in tandem with energy access.

According to him, Nigeria’s fragile electricity supply averaging about 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts for over 200 million people has made solar power a critical lifeline.

“Once considered an alternative, solar power is now essential, powering homes and sustaining enterprises where the national grid falls short.

“Building a manufacturing industry is like planting a forest. You cannot simply command the trees to grow; you must first prepare the soil”, Ibrahim added.

He identified policy consistency, access to financing, infrastructure development and strict quality control as key enablers for a viable local solar manufacturing industry, warning against the proliferation of substandard products.

Speaking, Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), Dr. Michael Terungwa David, underscored the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s energy deficit, describing it as a major constraint not only for households and businesses but also for the media.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s vast renewable energy potential, Terungwa cautioned that the rapid growth in solar adoption has exposed critical risks, particularly the influx of substandard materials and unskilled technicians.

His words: “Energy poverty in the country continues to affect not only households and businesses but also journalists, whose work depends heavily on reliable electricity.

“Solar energy itself is not the issue; the challenge lies in poor installation practices and low-quality components that could erode consumer trust and compromise safety,”.

He maintained that although local manufacturing should be pursued, an immediate ban on imports would be premature.

“With the right mix of policies, investments and public awareness, Nigeria can reposition itself as a model for sustainable energy development,” he added.

On his part, National Coordinator of GreenFaith Nigeria, Lucky Abeng, described the proposed ban as ill-timed, given the scale of energy deprivation across the country.

“You will agree that millions of Nigerians lack reliable access to any form of energy. This is not just an infrastructural gap; it is a development crisis affecting healthcare, livelihoods and productivity, especially in vulnerable communities,” he said.

Abeng warned that existing policy bottlenecks already constrain progress in the renewable energy sector, noting that an abrupt import ban could further stall growth.

Providing a data-driven perspective, researcher Daniel Oladoja revealed that public sentiment strongly opposes an immediate ban, with findings indicating that between 85 and 89 per cent of Nigerians reject such a move.

“The outcome of that study shows a loud ‘no’ to an immediate ban. Nigerians are very clear on this,” Oladoja said.

He urged policymakers to adopt a gradual localisation strategy similar to other major industrial projects.

He emphasised that any transition policy must be anchored on empirical evidence and reflect the realities of energy access in the country.