Nigeria's New Solar Policy Faces Infrastructure Challenges

On June 3, 2026, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) implemented a policy enabling households, offices, and factories with solar systems between 50 kilowatt peak and 1.5 megawatt peak to sell surplus electricity back to the national grid. This policy, termed "prosum," is a historic move in Nigeria's power sector, allowing for net billing and creating a new class of electricity users.

However, Mr. Ola Ogunsemowo, Chief Executive Officer of Kartel Energy, highlighted significant infrastructure challenges, stating that the current hardware limitations hinder the ability of most solar users to feed power into the grid. The policy aims to improve energy security, attract private investment, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite its potential, Nigeria faces a stark reality with only 4,000 MW of actual electricity available for 200 million citizens. The success of this policy will depend on addressing the existing infrastructure gaps and ensuring the stability of the national grid.