REA and Nigerian Armed Forces solar partnership kicks off under FG’s NPSSI plan to power military formations with clean energy nationwide

REA and Nigerian Armed Forces solar partnership has been formally initiated as part of the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative (NPSSI), with the goal of transitioning military formations nationwide from diesel generators to clean, sustainable solar power systems.

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At a high-level planning meeting held Thursday at Defence Headquarters in Abuja, the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, met with Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to outline collaboration on deploying solar infrastructure across key military facilities.

Aliyu explained that the NPSSI is a Federal Government–approved initiative, backed by an initial ₦100 billion fund, and targets public institutions like schools, hospitals, and security agencies to reduce energy costs and improve supply reliability.

“The NPSSI is a collaborative effort led by the REA alongside the Budget Office, InfraCorp, and Ministry of Finance Incorporated. Our goal is to replace diesel generators with sustainable solar solutions,” Aliyu said.

He emphasized that many military formations have already expressed interest in solar upgrades, and that a strategic, unified approach would ensure widespread and impactful results.

The project will operate under a pay-for-service model to ensure long-term sustainability.

For the military’s participation, a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is required, similar to agreements already secured with the Police Trust Fund, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Nigerian Correctional Service.

Responding to the proposal, General Musa praised the REA’s outreach:

“This is a timely and much-needed intervention. Several critical formations are in dire need of reliable power supply,” he stated, promising to form a military task team to work with the REA on priority site identification and implementation planning.

The meeting also explored the possibility of leveraging the Nigerian Army Engineers and Logistics Units to support deployment, maintenance, and local integration of the solar systems.

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A Joint REA–Military Solar Committee will be formed to oversee planning, deployment, and oversight, marking a bold step toward integrating renewable energy into Nigeria’s national security infrastructure.