The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has promised to install solar panels on every Nigerian home within 11 months of assuming office if elected president in the 2027 general elections.
Adebayo made the promise on Tuesday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he outlined his approach to tackling Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges.
He criticised previous rural electrification programmes for relying heavily on expensive grid infrastructure, including 33kV power lines, instead of adopting decentralised renewable energy solutions.
According to him, Nigeria can achieve wider electricity access by investing in local solar panel production and training communities to install and maintain the systems.
Adebayo said his administration would target between 11kW and 15kW of solar capacity for every household within the first 11 months in office.
“Between 11 and 15 kW of solar power will be put on every roof within 11 months of my presidency,” he said.
He recalled that he had advised the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2001 to partner with countries such as China or India to establish solar panel manufacturing plants in Nigeria and train Nigerians in solar installation.
“In 2001, the Obasanjo administration invited me, and I advised them to enter into an agreement with China or India, set up a factory to make solar panels, and train people to install them,” he said.
The SDP candidate also argued that funds allocated to local governments could be redirected towards financing decentralised solar projects if properly managed.
“Every Local Government Area has money that they steal every month to capitalise on this,” Adebayo said.
He maintained that local production and community-based installation of solar systems would reduce Nigeria’s dependence on the national grid while creating jobs and expanding access to reliable electricity.