BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU/CHIKA KWAMBA/OGORAMAKA AMOS/JUDITH OBIANUA/PRINCE EJAKPOMEVI
As electricity supply remains inconsistent and fuel prices continue to climb, many Nigerians are increasingly turning to solar energy as a more reliable alternative for powering their homes and businesses.
Across cities and communities, the shift toward solar has become more noticeable, with households and small business owners seeking relief from the high cost of running petrol and diesel generators.
However, while solar energy is often perceived as a cheaper and cleaner option in the long run, experts say the initial installation cost remains a major concern for many Nigerians.
Solar energy dealers and installation experts report a significant increase in demand in recent months. A solar installer, Mr Obiora Nwachukwu, said prices have been fairly stable over the past six months but warned of emerging market pressures.
“In the past six months, prices have been fairly stable. However, given the nature of the Nigerian market, there are already signs of artificial scarcity, which have started to cause a slight increase in the cost of solar panels,” he said.
He added that he foresees a general rise in the cost of materials and installation, largely due to the ripple effect of increasing fuel prices. “As demand for solar solutions grows, the overall cost of materials and installation is likely to increase,” he added.
Mr Nwachukwu further noted that as Nigerians grapple with persistent power supply challenges, the growing interest in solar energy reflects a broader shift toward self-sustained electricity solutions, even as concerns about affordability and accessibility remain.
Another solar installation expert based in Port Harcourt, Engr. Gabriel Idang explained that the cost of setting up a solar system varies depending on energy needs.
He said a basic setup capable of powering lights, fans, televisions, refrigerators, and charging devices could cost between ₦800,000 and ₦1.5 million, while more advanced systems designed to run deep freezers, pumping machines, and other heavy appliances can range from ₦2 million to over ₦5 million.
“The demand has increased. People are tired of spending so much on fuel daily, especially now that the price has gone up. But the price of solar components has also gone up because most of them are imported,” he said.
Similarly, a dealer in Asaba, who preferred anonymity, said that although prices have not risen sharply, there is a steady upward trend driven by logistics costs. He emphasised that despite the high upfront investment, solar systems often prove cost-effective over time, especially given the unpredictability of fuel prices.
Energy consumers who recently switched to solar shared mixed experiences. While many acknowledged the financial strain of installation, they also expressed relief at reduced dependence on fuel and improved power stability.
Speaking with The Pointer, Mr Efe Emuobome said switching to solar was a worthwhile decision. “Initially, I was scared of the cost, but when I realised it was a one-time investment, I borrowed money to install it. Since then, I’ve enjoyed steady power and reduced generator noise,” he said.
He added that the current weather conditions have also worked in his favour, as increased sunlight improves the efficiency of his solar system.
A small business owner in Asaba who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity said she spent about ₦1.2 million installing a solar system to power her shop.“It was not easy raising the money, but now I don’t worry about buying fuel every day. My business runs more smoothly,” she said.
Similarly, a civil servant, Mr Johnson Edafe, who installed a larger system for his household, disclosed that he spent over ₦3 million. He described the investment as worthwhile, citing uninterrupted power supply and reduced long-term expenses.
However, some Nigerians remain hesitant, citing affordability challenges. For low-income households, the high upfront cost continues to be a major barrier, even as the need for alternative energy sources becomes more pressing.
In Port Harcourt, a solar dealer, Chidubem Okafor, who spoke to our correspondent, said, “Honestly, the demand now is something else entirely. Before, people would just come and ask questions: ‘how much is the panel, how much is an inverter’, and after pricing, they would disappear. But now, people are serious. They come back with money, even if it’s not complete, just to secure something.”
He explained that the rising cost of fuel has forced many households into making urgent decisions. “People are tired. Imagine buying fuel every day or every two days. It’s draining. So even if solar is expensive, they see it as a one-time sacrifice, these days there are smaller panels that are affordable for customers”
However, he was quick to point out that solar now has different “varieties” that allow customers to get whatever they want, even as he talked about how the price of batteries has increased. “Lithium batteries have almost doubled. Even ordinary tubular batteries are not smiling.”
According to him, exchange rate instability is the biggest problem. “We import almost everything. Once the dollar goes up, everything changes overnight’’ he said, adding that supply shortages are becoming common.“There are times we run out of stock completely. You’ll see customers begging you to help them reserve even one panel. That’s how bad it is now.”
Despite the challenges, he believes solar is the future.“People don’t have a choice anymore. NEPA is not reliable, fuel is too costly—so solar is becoming a necessity, not a luxury.”
Likewise, another respondent, Engr. Samuel Hart, who is a solar installation expert, said, “One major misconception people have is that solar is just about panels. In reality, panels are just one part of the system. The real investment is in storage batteries—and your inverter.”
He broke down the cost structure in detail. “For a standard household setup, batteries can take up to 40 per cent or even 50 per cent of the total cost. A good lithium battery alone can cost over ₦800,000. If you need two or three, you can imagine the total.”
He noted that many clients are often shocked after initial consultations. “They come thinking they can install solar with ₦500,000, but when you explain their energy needs fridge, AC, pumping machine—they realise it’s far more.”
According to him, demand has also influenced pricing trends. “There is definitely a surge. More installers are entering the market, but quality components are still limited. So when demand rises faster than supply, prices naturally go up.”
He also warned against cutting corners. “Some people go for cheap installations just to save money. But in less than a year, they start having issues—battery failure, inverter faults. In solar, quality is everything.”
Despite the cost, he sees a long-term benefit. “Solar is an investment. If you calculate how much you spend on fuel in two to three years, you’ll realise solar actually saves you money.”
A solar company representative, Blessing Eze, who spoke to our correspondent, said, “The kind of questions I get now are very different from before. People come in and say, ‘Madam, I want to stop buying fuel.’ That’s the first thing they say. They want to run their ACs, deep freezers, washing machines—everything, especially those who have businesses”
She explained how economic hardship has reshaped consumer priorities. “Even small business owners—barbers, POS operators, tailors—are now asking about solar. They cannot keep up with fuel expenses again.”
However, she acknowledged that affordability remains a major barrier. “Many people cannot afford full payment. They will price everything, write it down, and go. Some come back after two or three months when they’ve gathered money.”
She also noted emotional frustration among customers.“Some customers express surprise when they hear the price. They will say, ‘Why is it this expensive?’ But when you explain the cost of importation, they calm down. Gradually, more people are embracing it. Even if they start small, they upgrade later. That’s how most people are doing it now.”
According to a civil servant, Mrs Ngozi Nwankwo, “I couldn’t continue the way we were living. There were days we would not have light for over a week, and buying fuel every time was becoming unbearable,” she began.
“I spent about ₦3.2 million on a system. I had to combine my savings. It was not easy at all, but it saves me from burning fuel every day. We were spending close to ₦15,000 every week on petrol. Sometimes more, depending on the situation.”
“Peace of mind is everything. My children can read at night, we can sleep with the fan on, and I don’t have to worry about fuel scarcity. At first, I regretted the money I spent. But after a few months, I realised it was worth it.”
Reacting to the situation, a Frozen Food Seller, Gift Briggs, said, “My freezers are my livelihood. If there’s no power, everything spoils. I was losing money constantly.”
“I used to spend up to ₦5,000 daily on fuel. Imagine that in one month, it’s huge. I spent about ₦2million because I needed something strong enough to carry multiple freezers. I had to take a risk. At that time, I wasn’t even sure how I would recover the money. But today, my profit has improved. I don’t panic about fuel anymore. Even when there is scarcity, my business continues.”
In the words of Wisdom Onianwa, an expert in solar engineering, ‘’Yes, there are variations in price, especially now with the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz where products from the Far East (China, Japan, South Korea) flow through’’
Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Keztek Energies Ltd, Mr Kingdom Zorzor concurred, ‘’Yes, due to the high demand, especially now that electricity supply is unpredictable… Though prices vary based on capacity. So, because of the scarcity of materials, especially now that Asia is not all that coordinated, the prices of materials have gone up.
‘’Mind you, most of these materials are imported from Asia, especially India and China. And once there is a limited supply and higher demand, you know we Nigerians take advantage of situations like that. So there would be a surge in price’’ Zorzor said.
In Ibadan, Mr Seun Samson, a solar user, said he switched to solar late last year. ‘’Though costs can vary wildly, depending on system size, quality, and installation’’
For him, a residential solar setup (like 1-2kW) can range from ₦500k to ₦1.5m. ‘’For bigger systems (3-5kW), you’re looking at ₦1.5m to ₦4m or more,’’ he said, adding that he has no regret installing it.
Meanwhile, the owner of Rayenergy Technology Ltd, Engr Ramson Udoka, supported the claims of earlier respondents. ‘’Before the scarcity, there was a considerable price reduction in solar materials compared to last year, though.
He continued, ‘’There is variation due to the law of demand, which states that when demand rises, price rises as well. Recently, there has been a scarcity of materials, which also explains the law of supply, which states that when supply is low, price goes high. This is the current situation as regards an alternative source of energy: solar’’
Similarly, the owner of Jilnergy Services. Mr Osabofu Francis noted that with the poor electricity supply and rising fuel prices in Nigeria, solar is no longer a luxury. ‘’It is now a smart and cost-saving solution.
‘’The truth is that while generators drain your money daily through fuel and maintenance, solar saves you that cost. In fact, many users recover their investment within a few years and then enjoy almost free electricity afterwards. So, is solar cheap? Not upfront, but in the long run, it is far cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable than fuel or unstable power supply’’ he said.
Additionally, an expert and dealer in solar and the founder of Samtech Power and Engineering Solutions, Engr Sam, submitted that solar energy package prices vary from appliances it powers… ‘’The more appliances you desire to power on solar, the higher the cost…. The demand level for solar energy now is at its highest, and the availability of materials is another issue… This has influenced the cost too.
Speaking with Ifeoma Eze, a receptionist at a solar shop, she said that solar is no longer cheap due to the poor supply of electricity. ‘’The least solar you can get is about N1,781,000, which is not a small amount of money, but it has now become an alternative.
‘’There is high patronage these days because they need light. There is a higher demand now than before. The price is increasing simultaneously. We have a 2.5 kW lithium battery worth ₦560,000. This battery can last up to 12 years, and it does not need maintenance.
‘’I cannot count how many we sell in a day. Some who are not able to afford one million or more go for a solar fan with a light attached to it. There are lots of benefits. One of these benefits is that you have light for 24 hours a day. Secondly, you do not have to pay the light bill to anybody; all you need is just the Sun. Thirdly, you don’t have to do maintenance before you use it.’’
According to a civil servant, Mr Obiora Joseph, ‘’the poor supply of electricity is an issue the government needs to address. It calls for urgent attention. It is our right as citizens to enjoy light. The electricity sector has failed, and that is why many Nigerians are seeking an alternative, which is solar, and it is not even affordable.
‘’As a civil servant, I won’t dare to buy solar because I have a lot of needs to attend to. How much is a junior staff member’s salary? The government needs to tackle this issue. I know of a Christian sister who just installed solar in her house. She spent up to ₦2,000,000. Some cost more than that amount.
Speaking with our correspondent, a solar installation expert, Mr Zino Ogenetega said demand for solar panels has increased slightly in recent months due to the rising cost of fuel and lack of power supply.
“Many Nigerians can no longer afford to run generators daily because of how financially draining it is. So now, people prefer solar because it saves money in the long run, even though the initial cost is high,” he said.
He further explained that customers now request larger solar systems to power other household appliances. According to him, “Before now, customers were mostly buying the smaller solar system, but now, due to the hike in petrol and insufficient power supply, they are now forced to buy bigger solar systems to power major household appliances.
Another solar dealer, Mr Kelvin Okonkwo, disclosed that with the recent surge in demand for larger solar panels, setting up a standard solar system now costs about ₦4.2 million, noting that the increase is largely driven by rising equipment prices and high market demand.
Some Nigerians who recently switched to solar say the move has reduced their dependence on fuel and improved their power supply. A resident of Okpanam, Mrs Blessing Ebi, shared her experience as her family recently converted to solar system use. “We installed a small solar system in our house for about N3 million in January, and looking back on it with the current situation of this country, I am happy my husband and I made that decision.
A Salon owner, Mrs Stella Nwafor, noted that solar installation will be financially demanding for her business. “Honestly, installing solar at this time might cripple my business financially due to the high cost, but I recently heard in the news that the government is working to improve the power situation, so I may have to wait and see how things unfold,” she explained.
