Counterfeit and substandard solar products are proliferating in Nigeria's renewable energy market and could damage consumer confidence and slow the sector's expansion, according to Kartel Energy, a solar company operating in the country. Ola Ogunsemowo, Chief Executive Officer of Skyville Company Limited, which owns Kartel Energy and LuxWatt Nigeria, made the warning at the Nigeria Energy 2026 exhibition in Lagos. He said rapid growth in the solar market had created inconsistent product quality and made it difficult for consumers to identify reliable equipment from unsuitable alternatives.
Ogunsemowo called for stronger government oversight and enforcement, clearer product standards and increased consumer education to protect buyers. He encouraged customers to purchase from reputable suppliers and to verify product warranties and after-sales support before buying. The company is expanding its range of solar and energy storage products to serve households, small businesses and industrial users, with a focus on durability, customer support and long-term value.
Through its LuxWatt brand, Skyville offers low-voltage lithium batteries ranging from 1.28kWh to 25kWh and high-voltage storage systems of up to 705kWh, alongside hybrid inverters ranging from 4.2kVA to 8kVA. As an original equipment manufacturer, the company tailors its products to Nigerian operating conditions and provides warranty and technical support. Ogunsemowo noted that growing numbers of households and businesses are turning to renewable energy systems as alternatives to unreliable electricity supply.
Kartel Energy has invested in developing local technical expertise through the Kartel Energy Academy, which trains solar professionals. The academy's Masterclass programme trained more than 1,500 solar experts last year and travels to major cities across the country. An institutional training arm is still being prepared for launch. Ogunsemowo observed that the exhibition showed increasing dominance of Chinese technology over Indian products, and stressed the need for stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria's domestic technological capacity.
For consumers, businesses and investors in Nigeria's solar sector, the proliferation of counterfeit products means careful verification of suppliers and equipment specifications is essential to avoid purchasing unreliable systems.