The Lagos State Government is facing a wave of public backlash following its confirmation of mandatory permit fees for residential estates seeking to install solar energy systems.
Critics of the policy described it as a “tax on sunlight” and a major setback to renewable energy adoption in Africa’s largest city.
The public outrage emanated after the state government clarified that the permits and administrative fees for installing solar power systems apply only to residents of its social housing estates, not to private homeowners across the state.
The clarification followed a viral video where officials of the State Ministry of Housing were seen confronting a resident of the Lagos State Millennium Housing Estate, Ibeshe for allegedly failing to get approval and paying necessary fees before installing a solar system in his apartment.
The incident drew criticisms from the public who questioned the rationale for imposing tax on residents who install solar power systems as an alternative source of electricity when the government has failed to provide electricity through the conventional power grid.
Reacting, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Wale Ajetunmobi, said the officials seen in the video were from the Monitoring and Compliance Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Housing.
Ajetunmobi said: “The Lagos State Government DOES NOT charge all residents living in the State for a permit to install solar power systems for domestic use in their homes, as the video suggested.
“ONLY residents living in the government-owned social housing estates are charged administrative fees for Alterations, such as the installation of solar power system, before any addition.”
He said the reason for the policy is that the State government is responsible for maintaining facilities in its social housing estates and any alteration to the original designs of the buildings must be approved by the Physical Planning and Survey departments of the Ministry of Housing.
According to him, the installation of solar power system is considered an alteration to the original designs of structures in government-owned social housing estates.
“There is public electricity supply system already installed in the Estates. Installation of an additional power system is taken as an alteration to the original design and functionality of an Estate building.
“Those solar power systems are usually installed by occupants in shared areas; so, this alteration must be approved by the facility manager (Government) before any occupant can proceed,” Ajetunmobi stated in a statement on Wednesday, April 22.
He claimed that the man in the video did not apply for approval before embarking on the procurement and installation of the solar system.
”The uniformed men seen in the video are from the Monitoring and Compliance Unit of the Ministry,” he added.
Ajetunmobi further stated that the Government had in the past taken responsibility for unpermitted alterations by estate residents, including leaking roofs and severe damage caused by fire.
“So, the simple rule for any estate occupant is to contact the State Government (facility manager) for approval for any external alteration they want to undertake in their building. If an unpermitted alteration affects the entire property, other occupants will hold the government responsible.”
Also, responding, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Engr. Abdulhafis Toriola said: “An allottee must obtain approval from the Ministry for any intended alteration to the flat allocated and the building, and this includes installation of solar panels.”
Toriola explained that the requirement is contained in the Letter of Allocation and Allottees Guide issued to all beneficiaries at the point of purchase.
According to him, “this is necessary to safeguard shared assets such as rooftops, walls, and water installation facilities. It also aims to prevent fire incidents linked to unprofessionally installed solar systems.”
The Permanent Secretary added that the Ministry was compelled to develop specific guidelines after solar panel installations began to create more problems than benefits for both users and non-users within government estates.
“In recent times, the Ministry had to intervene in fixing leaking rooftops and incessant fire outbreaks caused by solar panel installation by some residents.
“In order to minimise risk that will affect the entire building structure, the Ministry made regulations to stipulate guidelines for installation, the quality of materials such as cables and panel configuration, and the technical know-how of the installation personnel,” he added.
For millions of Lagosians already reeling from the removal of fuel subsidies and a soaring cost of living, the announcement of permit fees seems like an extra financial burden.
Social media platforms erupted within hours of the news. On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #LagosSolarTax began trending, with many users accusing the state government of discouraging green energy and punishing self-reliance.
A Financial Instructor and public commentator, Kalu Aja, said that as Nigerians grapple with the electricity crisis, the government should not charge people any fee for approval to install and use solar panel in their homes.
“There should not be a fee to install a solar panel on any home in a power-challenged nation or State,” Ajah stated on X.
“The State government should rather be offering a rebate to Land Use charges for homeowners to install a solar panel. I remind you that Lagos State launched Nigeria’s first sub-national green bond in November 2025, raising ₦14.815 billion (Series 3) to fund environmentally friendly projects like renewable energy. It’s like charging mothers a fee to vaccinate their kids from Polio,” he added.
“Only in Nigeria, especially in Lagos State, do governments seem to tax citizens for their own failures. This is the same system that once proposed levies on private boreholes, even though people resort to them because the government cannot provide reliable water,” another social media user, Ayo Abdul, stated.
However, another user, Marcus Imoudu, stressed that the solar installation permit fee is “an administrative fee for making alterations” and is a reasonable and standard practice, not really a tax.
“It’s not the same thing as taxing people for installing a solar system itself. Those are two very different issues, and mixing them up only creates confusion,” Imoudu stated.
Despite the clarification, more reactions towards the policy point to longstanding distrust between the authorities and the people.
Some argued that the government is currently testing the policy by applying it to government-owned estates and may extend it later to private homes.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X