… As grid collapse pushes homes to solar, experts warn that quack installers and cheap cables are turning rooftops into fire traps
Written By Rashidat O. Okunlade | Lagos
The collapse of Nigeria’s national grid and the soaring cost of petrol and diesel have driven millions of households and businesses toward solar power as a survival strategy. But that desperate pivot is now producing a deadly side effect: a surge in rooftop fires linked to substandard panels, poor installation, and dangerously undersized cables.
Editor in-Chief ROTAMediaNews and BusinessEcho Magazine by ROTA Media Concepts, Rashidat Olushola Okunlade engaged experts in conversation, Excerpt.
Engr. Bamidele Faparusi, CEO of GreenPower GP Greenpower Overseas Limited www.greenpowernig.com and a public servant, has identified two primary culprits behind the recent spate of solar-related fire accidents: substandard panel quality installation and poor cable sizing.
Faparusi was unequivocal on one point: the sun’s heat alone cannot ignite a solar panel. The fire risk, he stressed, originates from the electrical components, specifically the cables carrying the current.
“The major problem is from cable,” Faparusi stated. “Poor cable sizing.”
When cables are too thin for the current they carry, they overheat, melt their insulation, and can ignite surrounding materials. This risk is compounded when installers often untrained or cutting corners to offer “cheaper” packages use ordinary household wiring instead of proper solar DC cables rated for outdoor exposure and high temperatures.
The Regulatory Vacuum
Faparusi’s warning aligns with growing alarm from safety agencies. The Federal Fire Service in Gombe State has explicitly warned that “improperly installed or substandard solar photovoltaic systems can lead to fire outbreaks, electric shock, battery explosions, roof damage, and other serious safety risks”.
The Lagos State Ministry of Housing has also intervened, revealing that it has had to fix “leaking rooftops and incessant fire outbreaks caused by solar panel installations by some residents” in government estates. The Ministry now mandates approval before any solar installation, with guidelines covering “the quality of materials such as cables and panel configuration, and the technical know-how of the installation personnel”.
At the federal level, the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has issued new standards under the Electricity Act 2023, mandating certified installers, proper load assessments, and the use of DC and AC isolators, circuit breakers, and surge protection devices. NEMSA specifically requires “proper cable management” and warns against damaged solar modules.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and NEMSA have a standing committee to identify and remove substandard electrical materials from the market, but enforcement at ports and in open markets remains a persistent challenge.
How To Verify A Reputable Solar Company
For Nigerians navigating a market flooded with counterfeit panels and unqualified installers, Faparusi’s advice is blunt: stop patronizing quacks.
But how does a consumer tell the difference?
Demand NEMSA Certification
NEMSA certifies renewable energy installers. Consumers should ask for the contractor’s NEMSA competency certificate. The agency maintains a directory of certified electrical contractors.
Verify Product Authenticity
Counterfeit panels, inverters, and cables are rampant. Buyers should check for SONCAP certification, the NIS (Nigerian Industrial Standard) mark, and manufacturer serial numbers and QR codes. Experts warn: “If the price appears too good to be true, it probably is”.
Insist on Solar DC Cables
Regular house wiring is not designed for solar systems. Installers must use proper solar DC cables (IEC 60228 rated) sized correctly for the system’s current load .
Demand a Load Assessment
A reputable installer will assess the building’s electrical load before designing the system. Oversized or undersized components create fire risks.
Check for Protection Devices
A safe installation includes DC and AC isolators, circuit breakers, surge protection, and proper earthing (resistance of 2 ohms or below).
Inspect Before You Occupy
Landlords and business owners should have existing solar installations inspected before moving in, as hidden faults often cause night-time fires.
What to Do in a Solar Fire
The Federal Fire Service advises:
Do not pour water on live electrical equipment.
Switch off the system only if it is safe to do so.
Evacuate immediately and alert emergency responders.
Stay clear of the affected area.
Why It Matters
Nigeria’s solar boom is not a luxury; it is a necessity born of systemic failure. When the grid delivers less than 4,000MW to a nation of over 200 million, and fuel costs make generators unaffordable for most households, solar is the only viable path to reliable electricity for millions.
But a transition driven by desperation is a transition vulnerable to exploitation. Unscrupulous importers and quack installers are profiting from that desperation, selling substandard panels and cutting corners on installation in ways that turn a source of hope into a source of danger.
The regulatory framework exists, NEMSA standards, SON certification, Lagos State’s approval requirements. The gap is enforcement and consumer awareness. Until Nigerians demand certified installers and genuine equipment, and until regulators aggressively police the market, the fires will continue.
Solar is not the enemy. The enemy is the quack who sells a family a cheap system that burns their home down.
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