Begins Talks With Nigerian Armed Forces To Deploy Solar Power Under The NPSSI
By Jennete Ugo Anya
Nigeria’s clean energy ambitions received a major boost on August 13, 2025, as the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a strategic partnership.
The partnership is to fast-track the country’s transition to renewable energy, and also to drive innovation, and prepare a new generation of skilled professionals.
The collaboration will also focus on five pillars – energizing education and innovation, expanding skills development, supporting state-level policy reforms, unlocking innovative financing, and advancing research and communication – with the goal of delivering sustainable, inclusive growth.
Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, REA Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), described the agreement as “a game-changer for Nigeria’s clean energy future,” building on ongoing federal government efforts to scale up renewable energy. He said that the initiative would position Nigeria as a renewable energy hub, boost local manufacturing, attract sustainable investment, and cut governance costs through efficiency.
“Our goal is to unlock opportunities in innovation, research, and local content while catalyzing a new wave of sustainable investments. This is about turning Nigeria’s vast energy potential into lasting economic and social benefits,” Dr. Aliyu said.
Corroborating the position of the REA Boss, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, said that the partnership goes beyond powering communities to unlocking their potential for innovation, youth empowerment, and job creation. She stressed the need to transform Nigeria’s natural resources – such as lithium – into high-value renewable products like battery systems, ensuring that research and innovation remain central in universities and technical institutions to generate green jobs.
Under the agreement, UNDP’s University Innovation Pods (UNIPODS) and Maker Spaces will, as stated in the key pillars of the partnership, be integrated into REA’s Energizing Education Programme to transform federal universities and teaching hospitals into hubs of innovation. “The partnership will also expand REA’s NEXTGEN initiative to train a new generation of clean energy professionals, address youth unemployment, and build a national talent pipeline for the sector.”
“At the state level, the partnership will provide technical and policy guidance to help subnational governments implement the Electricity Act and harmonize energy policies. In financing, it will leverage blended capital to de-risk projects, attract private investment, and strengthen the Rural Electrification Fund. Joint research and public engagement campaigns will ensure interventions are data-driven and widely supported.”
The partnership highlighted: “The initiative reflects UNDP’s commitment to inclusive, locally driven development and REA’s mandate to deliver sustainable energy to unserved and underserved communities. Together, both organisations aim to accelerate Nigeria’s journey toward universal access to clean energy — a goal that aligns squarely with the President Tinubu administration’s push for a greener, more prosperous future.”
Talks With Nigerian Armed Forces
In another development, the REA and the Nigerian Armed Forces have begun talks to deploy solar power under the National Public Sector Solarization Initiative (NPSSI).
Recently, Dr. Aliyu met with General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), at the Defence head office in Abuja, to outline the initiative and also seek collaboration.
According to REA, while the NPSSI was approved by the federal government with an initial N100 billion funding, the NPSSI aims to replace diesel generators in public institutions with sustainable solar systems. “The scheme targets schools, hospitals, government offices, and other essential facilities, cutting energy costs, improving reliability, and accelerating Nigeria’s clean energy transition.”
Dr. Aliyu disclosed that the project is a joint effort involving the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF), Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI). He noted that several military formations had already shown interest in the solar rollout, but a unified strategy was needed to ensure broad benefits.
Participation, he explained, would require a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the military leadership under a pay-for-service model to guarantee long-term sustainability. Similar agreements have already been signed with the Police Trust Fund, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Nigerian Correctional Service.
General Musa welcomed the proposal, calling it “a timely and much-needed intervention” for the formations facing unreliable power supply. He pledged to set up a military team to work with the REA on identifying priority locations and developing an implementation plan.
The discussions also explored involving the Nigerian Army Engineers and Logistics Unit in the deployment, installation, and maintenance of the systems. A joint REA–Military Solar Committee will, according to him, be established to refine the approach.
The visit, in the words of the REA Boss, “signals the President Tinubu administration’s push to embed renewable energy into critical public infrastructure, with the REA leading efforts to deliver sustainable power solutions where they are most needed.”
