By Aduragbemi Omiyale

There are strong indications that the prices of solar panels in Nigeria may soon jump at the markets as the federal government is considering stopping its importation to boost local production

The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji, said the country has the capacity to meet local demand of solar energy and to encourage more domestic investments in the landscape, the importation of solar products, which are duty-free, has to stop.

Speaking in a recent interview in Abuja at the launch of the NEV T6 electric buses, Mr Nnaji said the plans to prohibit solar panel importation aligns with Presidential Executive Order Number 5, which seeks to promote local content in science, engineering, and technology.

He emphasised that with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), there is nothing to worry about with local solar panel production.

“With NASENI here, you know that we have panels. It has a factory that has started producing solar panels and other private individuals are also producing solar panels as we speak.

“So, all we need to do is, even through science and technology, through our Presidential Executive Order No. 5, we will stop all these importations of solar panels.

“We will support our local industries to grow and very soon, most houses will go off-grid. Personally, I have been off-grid for over three years and it is working,” the Minister said.

Mr Nnaji noted that Nigeria was already making significant investments in renewable energy infrastructure, noting that with the expansion of local solar panel manufacturing, more Nigerian homes and institutions would transition to off-grid power solutions

“We have lithium in abundance here in Nigeria, so Mr. President is already taking action. We are adding value to our raw materials. The lithium we have here will be processed and used as batteries for these vehicles,” he stated.

“If you look at our budgets, we have what is called mini-grids all over the place. In less than three or four months, you will start seeing our hospitals and institutions being powered by solar.

“Again, we are saving the environment. We are putting in place non-carbon emission infrastructure. So, we are creating power everywhere,” he added.

Business Post gathered that at the moment, the price of 555w solar panels goes for between N140,000 and N160,000, while a 220v inverter battery is about N260,000, with a 60A charge controller at about N180,000.

Consumers are already scared that if the importation of solar panels are stopped, prices will rise like it happened with rice.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The 2025 camp meeting of Dominion City Church will commence from Thursday, April 17 to Monday, April 21 at Golden Heart Place, Km 22, Lekki-Epe Expressway, beside Lagos Business School, Ajah, Lagos.

The Senior Pastor of Dominion City and President of the Dominion Leadership Institute, Pastor David Ogbueli, will lead the event alongside other anointed ministers, including Apostle Michael Orokpo, Pastor Randy Mitchell from the USA, Apostle Ben Noobe from South Africa, Reverend Samson Ajetomobi, and Rev Pade Tokun.

The power-packed spiritual gathering is designed to ignite revival, salvation, deliverance, miracles, and breakthroughs in the lives of attendees.

Every year, the event attracts thousands of worshippers at the venue of the programme and virtually and the church said it would not be different this year.

Attendees will experience an atmosphere of deep worship with renowned gospel ministers such as GUC, Anthony Kani, Sunmisola Agbebi, and David Nkennor and the DC Angels, a statement disclosed.

There will also be specialized training sessions for ministers of the gospel, career professionals, social workers, entrepreneurs, children and teen workers, etc. for exponential growth.

As part of Dominion City’s commitment to ensuring accessibility, free transportation will be provided to and from the venue.

“We believe this Camp Meeting will be a divine appointment where lives are transformed, faith is strengthened, and destinies are realigned.

“We invite everyone seeking spiritual renewal and breakthrough to join us for this life-changing encounter,” the cleric stated.

With sessions at 8 am and 5 pm daily, the event will officially commence with an opening session on Thursday, April 17 at 5 pm.

A key highlight of the program will be the Good Friday Healing and Miracle Night on Friday, April 18, at 5 pm, an extraordinary session dedicated to divine healing and supernatural encounters.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, has announced the arrest of 327 illegal miners across Nigeria since 2024.

Mr Alake disclosed this at a recent news conference to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the operations of the Mining Marshals (MM).

He stressed that while the MM has “arrested 327 suspects for illegal mining,” the ministry, in partnership with other agencies, has prosecuted 143 individuals across the country since the MM began operations in 2024.

Recall that the Mining Marshals was inaugurated on March 21, 2024, to serve as a security outfit tracking illegal mining in the solid minerals sector.

The security personnel are mainly from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The mines marshal devised to be an inter-agency security outfit also incorporates special operatives from other security agencies like the Nigeria Police, the army, amongst others.

Speaking at the event, Mr Alake stated that the Marshals’ key target for 2025 is to secure the conviction of the 327 individuals already arraigned in court.

According to him, this will enhance deterrence in the mining sector and enforce compliance with the law.

He appreciated the contributions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Army, highlighting that their efforts have helped in the drive to sanitize the solid minerals sector.

“This month, the Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, sentenced two foreigners, Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan, to prison for illegal mining of solid minerals following a case prosecuted by the EFCC.

“We also commend the EFCC for its diligent prosecution of illegal miners.

“In May last year, the EFCC successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of two other foreigners, Duan Ya Hong and Xiao Yi, to one year of imprisonment for illegal mining at another Federal High Court, also sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State,” he said.

The Minister stressed that in the last year, the MM has tackled the severity of illegal mining, which, according to him, “has been exacerbated by companies collaborating with individual miners to carry out the act.”

“According to our records, the MM recovered over 98 sites last year. This has enabled many license owners to return to sites and resume operations.

“This will ultimately improve royalties and raise the contribution of solid minerals to the country’s revenue.

“So far, the MM has identified 457 suspected illegal mining sites and has improved intelligence gathering on these sites,” he added.

Mr Alake explained that MM’s major areas of operation have been across 10 states: Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Kaduna, Enugu, Abia, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory.

He added that in 2025, the outfit is expected to increase its engagements in other parts of the nation.

He assured that the number of personnel would be expanded, and more logistics, including vehicles and other equipment, would be made available to the Mining Marshals to strengthen their operations.

On his part, the Commandant of the Mining Marshals, Mr John Attah, thanked the minister for his support and urged the public to see their operations as a national project.