Nigeria Must Manufacture Clean Energy Technologies, Not Remain Import-Dependent — NASENI EVC

Oru Leonard 

The Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has called for a major transformation in Nigeria’s clean energy strategy, stressing the need for the country to move from merely importing renewable energy solutions to manufacturing them locally.

Halilu made the call while speaking at the Mustapha Abdullahi Energy Leadership Fellowship in Abuja, with the theme: “Energy Infrastructure, Systems & Integration.” He said Nigeria’s energy future depends on developing an integrated ecosystem driven by innovation, local manufacturing, research, policy support, financing and skilled manpower.

The NASENI chief executive noted that Africa’s energy challenge remains significant, with over 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lacking access to clean energy, while the continent requires about $15 billion annually to bridge the energy access gap by 2035.

He added that although Africa has recorded growth in renewable energy investments, including more than 20 gigawatts of installed solar capacity, faster implementation and stronger local value chains are required to achieve sustainable energy development.

Expressing concern over Nigeria’s dependence on imported renewable energy technologies, Halilu disclosed that the country spent over ₦400 billion importing solar technologies in 2025, while imports had already exceeded ₦200 billion in the first half of 2026.
According to him, the huge import bill represents missed opportunities for domestic industrialisation, job creation and economic growth.
“These are not just import statistics; they represent factories that were never built, jobs that were never created, and opportunities that left our economy,” he said.

Halilu explained that energy infrastructure alone cannot drive industrial development, stressing that Nigeria must build a complete ecosystem where technology development, manufacturing, innovation, financing and human capital operate together.

He said NASENI’s transformation agenda is anchored on its 3Cs Strategy — Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation — aimed at developing home-grown technologies, partnering with local and international institutions for technology transfer, and ensuring research outcomes are converted into market-ready products.

Highlighting some of the agency’s ongoing initiatives, Halilu cited the 40-hectare Solar Industrial Park in Gora, Nasarawa State, designed to promote local production of solar panels, batteries and other renewable energy components.

He also highlighted NASENI’s partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Nigeria First Policy, which supports the deployment of locally manufactured renewable energy solutions in electrification projects across the country.

Other interventions, he said, include solar-powered irrigation systems to improve agricultural productivity, clean cookstoves to reduce reliance on firewood, and decentralised renewable energy solutions for communities, schools and healthcare facilities.

The NASENI EVC urged young Nigerians participating in the fellowship to embrace systems thinking by connecting technology with policy, innovation with investment, and ideas with practical execution.
“Nigeria has the resources, the talent and the market to become Africa’s clean energy manufacturing hub. What we need are leaders prepared to build institutions, strengthen value chains and embrace collaboration,” Halilu said.

He reaffirmed NASENI’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s industrial transformation by ensuring that technologies powering Africa’s future are increasingly designed, manufactured and commercialised within the country.

Halilu challenged stakeholders to decide whether Nigeria would remain a consumer of clean energy technologies or become one of the nations building them.
“NASENI has already chosen its path. We are building the ecosystem that will make Nigeria a leader in clean energy manufacturing and innovation while unlocking infinite possibilities for generations to come,” he said.