The Nigerian military is to collaborate with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) on a major clean energy initiative that would witness solar power installed at key military formations across the federation.

The move followed a planning meeting in Abuja between REA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.

REA, in a release, said the agency would leverage the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative (NPSSI), a federal programme aimed at replacing diesel generators in public institutions with sustainable solar systems.

Aliyu said 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), to cut energy costs, improve reliability, and advance Nigeria’s clean energy transition.

The NPSSI, backed by an initial N100 billion in government funding, targets essential public facilities such as schools, hospitals, and government offices.

According to the REA, several military units have already signalled interest in adopting solar power. Aliyu noted that the agency is now working towards a unified approach to ensure benefits are spread across multiple formations. Participation will require a formal agreement with military leadership, under a pay-for-service model designed to guarantee long-term sustainability.

Similar arrangements have been concluded with the Police Trust Fund, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Nigerian Correctional Service.