Professor Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has raised concerns that the widespread installation of solar panels on rooftops is unsafe and endangers lives and property.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, Bugaje warned that many installations across the country are being done without adhering to proper safety and engineering standards.
“The installations that are going on across the country on rooftops are very unprofessional and they are risks to fire,” Bugaje stated.
He explained that during peak solar radiation, the high current flowing through wires can cause them to heat up, potentially leading to melting or sparking that ignites fires.
“Many fires have happened because of that,” he noted.
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Bugaje also criticized the common practice of mounting solar panels at steep angles that match rooftop designs.
He pointed out that most roofs are sloped at 60 to 70 degrees, which significantly reduces solar collection efficiency.
For optimal energy generation, he advised that panels should be mounted at around 10 degrees, facing south, to align with Nigeria’s geographic position, especially in areas like Abuja.
Highlighting the critical importance of renewable energy for Nigeria’s industrialization, Bugaje emphasized that the country needs to target nearly 500 watts per capita.
He lamented the current energy poverty, noting that a population of 230 million people relies on just 5,000 megawatts, resulting in a “decimally low” per capita energy availability that hinders industrial growth, especially when compared to peer nations like South Africa.
To address these gaps, Bugaje stated that the technical education sector is increasing its efforts through structured training.
He explained that the National Diploma in Renewable Energy Engineering has been revised, and two new Higher National Diploma (HND) programs in photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal engineering have been introduced.
Additionally, short-term certifications under the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) are being offered to equip installers with professional expertise.
Bugaje expressed concern over Nigeria’s underutilized solar potential and urged state governments to leverage recent constitutional changes that now allow states to generate and distribute electricity independently.
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