Kartel Energy warns counterfeit solar gear threatens Nigeria market growth

Nigeria's solar market faces a counterfeit problem that could stall sector growth, Kartel Energy has warned, with the company calling for stronger government enforcement, clearer product standards and consumer education to keep substandard hardware out of the supply chain.

Ola Ogunsemowo, Chief Executive Officer of Skyville Company Limited, parent of the Kartel Energy and LuxWatt Nigeria brands, delivered the warning on the sidelines of the Nigeria Energy 2026 exhibition in Lagos. Rapid market expansion, he said, has produced inconsistent product quality and a proliferation of counterfeit or substandard products. Consumers now struggle to distinguish reliable equipment from unsuitable alternatives.

"Kartel believes stronger oversight and enforcement by relevant government agencies, clearer product standards, and consumer education are important to protecting customers and supporting sustainable market growth," Ogunsemowo said.

He added a direct message to buyers: "Customers should also be encouraged to buy from reputable suppliers and confirm product warranties and after-sales support before making a purchase."

What products sit in the company's portfolio?

At the exhibition, Skyville's two solar brands showcased hybrid inverters, lithium batteries and solar panels built for a spread of applications. The storage line is the clearest measure of the company's build-out.

• Low-voltage lithium batteries under LuxWatt, ranging from 1.28kWh to 25kWh
• High-voltage storage systems of up to 705kWh
• Hybrid inverters spanning 4.2kVA to 8kVA

Skyville is expanding the range to serve households, small businesses and industrial users. Ogunsemowo said the company, as an original equipment manufacturer, designs for Nigerian operating conditions and backs its products with warranty services and technical support. His stated focus is product durability, customer support and long-term value as competition in the solar market intensifies.

How is the company building local capacity?

The Kartel Energy Academy trains solar professionals, and the numbers are already substantial. Its Masterclass programme is operational and travels to major cities across the country. Last year it trained more than 1,500 solar experts, according to Ogunsemowo. An institutional training arm remains in preparation and has not yet launched.

The training effort addresses a workforce bottleneck that runs parallel to the quality problem. Substandard products and undertrained installers both erode consumer confidence in off-grid and backup power systems, the segment Nigerian households and businesses are turning to as alternatives to unreliable grid supply.

What did the exhibition signal about supply chains?

Ogunsemowo used the Lagos event to engage stakeholders and assess solutions to Nigeria's electricity challenges. He noted growing interest in renewable energy systems among households and businesses seeking dependable supply.

One market shift stood out. Chinese technology, he observed, increasingly dominates over Indian products at the exhibition. He stressed the need for stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria's domestic technological capacity, a call that sits alongside his demands for standards enforcement on imported hardware.

What decides what happens next?

The trajectory of Nigeria's solar sector now hinges on two moves. Regulators must decide whether to act on industry calls for product standards and enforcement against counterfeit equipment. And suppliers must demonstrate, through warranties, after-sales support and trained installers, that certified products can hold market share against cheaper substandard alternatives.

Kartel Energy's own next milestones are concrete: continued rollout of the storage and inverter line, launch of the academy's institutional training arm, and expansion of the Masterclass circuit beyond the 1,500 professionals trained last year.