As more Nigerians abandon the unstable national grid for solar energy, a leading solar analyst has warned of looming fire disasters caused by poor-quality products and unprofessional installations.
Yakubu Yunusa, a certified solar expert and CEO of Herolinks Globaltech, told SaharaReporters that the nation’s fast-growing solar market is being infiltrated by fake and second-hand panels, low-grade inverters, and weak batteries that cannot meet energy needs or safety standards.
“Nigeria enjoys abundant sunlight—between 3.5 and 7.0 kWh/m²/day. Harnessing even 1% of our landmass could generate over 180,000 MW of clean energy,” Yunusa said. “But without quality components and trained professionals, this blessing could turn into a curse.”
He cautioned that without immediate government intervention to regulate imports, certify installers, and educate consumers, the country could face a sharp increase in fire incidents linked to faulty solar setups. “If nothing is done, fire outbreaks will rise, and we’ll need more extinguishers, more firefighters, and more emergency resources,” he warned.
Herolinks Globaltech not only installs solar systems but also trains young Nigerians in proper installation techniques. Yunusa urged authorities to tighten border checks to block substandard imports, enforce mandatory installer certification, and launch nationwide public awareness campaigns.
“Nigeria’s energy future is bright,” he concluded, “but only if we light it up the right way—using quality products, certified hands, and strong regulatory oversight.”
