President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to produce more solar cells to boost the alternative power sources in the country.

Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mohammed Haruna, made this known to State House correspondents after briefing the president on the activities of the Agency on Friday in Abuja.

Mr Buhari is the Chairman of NASENI.

According to Mr Haruna, the president also directed the implementation of modular irrigation projects and the production of more farm implements, to boost agricultural activities.

He said: “The President is impressed that NASENI is delivering on its mandate. I gave him the usual quarterly briefing and he is happy with what we have done in this quarter.

“Therefore, he has directed us to do more, particularly in the modular irrigation project that we are commencing form Adamawa State, the solar cells production and also agricultural implements. ”

The NASENI boss informed journalists that the agency has been able to impact the power sector, leading to the establishment of a factory in Karshi, Abuja.

According to him, the factory has the capacity to produce 7.5 megawatt of solar energy.

“Through our research and development activities in solar, it is so successful that through local innovations we now have a factory, 7.5 megawatt capacity Limited Liability Company.

“The company is 100 per cent owned by the government in Karshi-Abuja, producing solar modules of highest quality.

“These modules are installed in many places, we have dealers who buy these and distribute and we participate in installations in private and government buildings.

“7.5 megawatts cannot meet the needs of the nation and that is not making the price of solar power affordable because the cells used are imported.

“Solar cells are products of silicon and silicon is obtained from silica, which is nothing other than the sand that we have abandoned,’’ he said.

He said this informed the president’s approval for the Agency to obtain the facility from China in order to achieve 100 per cent made in Nigeria products,

“When that is done, solar power supply will be affordable because the most expensive component is the cells,” he said.