The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen safety regulation in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector with the inauguration of a 16-member Inter-Agency Committee on Regulatory Framework and Safety Standards for Lithium Battery Solar Energy Systems in Nigeria by the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN.
The initiative is aimed at establishing a coordinated regulatory framework to guide the safe installation, operation, maintenance and disposal of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and lithium-ion battery storage solutions, in response to the growing adoption of renewable energy and the associated risks of fire incidents and other safety hazards.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, mni, highlighted the immense potential of solar energy and lithium-ion battery storage systems to expand electricity access, stimulate economic growth, promote technological advancement and support environmental sustainability. He, however, stressed that these benefits must be accompanied by robust safety standards and effective regulatory oversight.
Dr. Udeh emphasised that the promotion of renewable energy must go hand in hand with the protection of lives and property, noting that improperly installed, operated or maintained battery-powered solar systems could pose serious safety risks. He therefore called for coordinated action among relevant institutions responsible for science, technology, standards development, electrical safety, renewable energy, environmental protection, fire safety, research and enforcement.
The Minister stressed that the Committee was established to develop a comprehensive and sustainable regulatory framework that would ensure the safe deployment of solar PV and lithium-ion battery systems across the country, while strengthening public confidence in renewable energy technologies and promoting compliance with established safety requirements.
Under its Terms of Reference (ToR), the Committee is expected to review existing Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, identify regulatory gaps and recommend appropriate adaptations to reflect Nigeria’s operating conditions. It will also propose minimum safety requirements covering the design, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance and end-of-life disposal of solar PV and lithium-ion battery systems.
The Committee is further mandated to recommend a framework for the competency assessment, certification, registration and licensing of solar PV installers in collaboration with relevant regulatory bodies. It will also propose measures for battery conformity assessment, product certification, traceability and market surveillance to strengthen quality assurance, discourage the circulation of substandard products and ensure that equipment deployed in Nigeria meets applicable safety requirements.
He charged members of the Committee to approach the assignment with professionalism, dedication and a strong sense of responsibility, urging them to work collaboratively and deliver practical, evidence-based recommendations within the stipulated timeframe. And also expressed confidence that the Committee’s work would strengthen regulatory compliance, reduce safety risks, protect lives and property, and contribute to the sustainable development of Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
Speaking on behalfof the Committee, the Secretary of the Committee and Director of Science and Technology Promotion in the Ministry, Mr. Agoro Olayiwola, expressed appreciation to the Honourable Minister for the confidence reposed in the members. He assured that the Committee would discharge its mandate diligently and efficiently, with a view to developing recommendations that would advance public safety and national development.
The 16-member Committee is chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, mni, while Mr. Agoro Olayiwola, Director of Science and Technology Promotion, serves as Secretary. Other members are drawn from the Ministry’s Department of Chemical Technology and relevant institutions, including the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), among other relevant agencies.
Mrs. Pauline Sule, mnipr
Head, Press and Public Relations Unit
