The Rural Electrification Agency and the Nigerian Armed Forces are collaborating on deploying solar power to military formations through the National Public Sector Solarization Initiative.
Speaking during a project initiation and planning meeting at the Defense Headquarters in Abuja, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, elucidated that “the NPSSI is a programme sanctioned by the Federal Government, with an initial endowment of N100 billion.
This initiative, he said aims to supplant diesel generators in public institutions with sustainable solar power systems. He emphasized that the intended beneficiaries encompass schools, hospitals, government offices, and other vital facilities.
“The NPSSI is a collaborative effort led by the REA in partnership with the Budget Office of the Federation, Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI). Our goal is to cut energy costs, improve reliability, and advance Nigeria’s clean energy transition.”
In a statement issued on Thursday, Dr. Aliyu highlighted the relevance to the Armed Forces, noting that several military formations had already expressed interest in solar interventions.
REA therefore emphasized the importance of adopting a unified and strategic approach to ensure widespread benefits across the military formations”, hence the visit to the Chief of Defense Staff.
“For military formations to participate, an MOU with the military leadership would be required, stressing that the initiative is a pay-for-service model to ensure long-term sustainability. Similar agreements have already been signed with the Police Trust Fund, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Nigerian Correctional Service,” he further explained.
In response, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, welcomed the proposal and expressed appreciation for the REA’s outreach.
He said: “This is a timely and much-needed intervention. Several critical formations are in dire need of reliable power supply. I will set up a military team to work closely with the REA to identify priority locations and develop a clear implementation plan.”
Both parties also discussed leveraging the Nigerian Army Engineers and Logistics Unit to support deployment, installation, and maintenance of the solar systems. This proposal will be further reviewed by a joint REA–Military Solar Committee to be established following the meeting.
The visit underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions, as well as the REA’s drive to expand renewable energy access to critical public infrastructure across Nigeria.