Precious Anga
Lagos — The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding local production of renewable energy technologies and accelerating electricity access across Nigeria.
The agreement, signed at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) headquarters in Abuja, aligns with the Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy, which seeks to reduce dependence on imported products while strengthening local industries.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, NASENI Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the agency is focused on bridging the gap between research, manufacturing and commercialisation of indigenous technologies.
According to him, NASENI plans to scale up the production of renewable energy equipment, including solar panels and street lighting systems, through initiatives such as DefFrontier.
“NASENI will scale up renewable energy production, including solar panels and streetlights, through initiatives such as DefFrontier, to strengthen local manufacturing and reduce import dependence,” Halilu said.
He added that the agency intends to ensure Nigeria’s renewable energy requirements, particularly those of the REA, are increasingly met through locally manufactured solutions rather than imported equipment.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the partnership as a significant step towards building a sustainable renewable energy ecosystem driven by domestic manufacturing.
Aliyu explained that while NASENI would provide manufacturing and technological capacity, the REA would focus on deploying renewable energy solutions to underserved and off-grid communities.
“While NASENI provides the manufacturing and technological capacity for renewable equipment, REA will focus on deploying solutions to expand electricity across rural areas,” he said.
He noted that the collaboration would support ongoing efforts to bridge Nigeria’s electricity access gap, particularly in remote communities that remain outside the national grid.
Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Adebowale Abraham Adedokun, said the agreement reflects the objectives of the Nigeria First Policy by promoting local content, transparency and value for public expenditure.
Adedokun stated that implementation of the partnership would be closely monitored to ensure accountability and measurable outcomes, adding that the initiative demonstrates how government institutions can align policy objectives with practical delivery in critical sectors such as energy.
Under the agreement, implementation will be driven through NASENI’s subsidiary, NASENI DevFrontier Green Energy FZE, and REA’s special purpose vehicle, RAMCo. Both organisations will collaborate on the production and deployment of photovoltaic modules, inverters and energy storage batteries manufactured locally.
The arrangement will also enable NASENI to participate in REA electrification programmes nationwide, while ensuring compliance with procurement regulations, local content requirements and transparency standards.
Officials said the partnership is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s renewable energy manufacturing capacity, create jobs, reduce reliance on imported energy equipment and accelerate access to reliable electricity for millions of Nigerians living in rural communities.
