The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen local production and deployment of renewable energy technologies under the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First Policy”.

The agreement, aimed at reducing dependence on imported energy equipment and expanding Nigeria’s off-grid electricity access, was formally signed on Friday at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) headquarters in Abuja.

The process was facilitated by the Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun.

The partnership is expected to deepen collaboration between both agencies in the production, deployment and adoption of solar and other renewable energy solutions across the country, particularly in rural communities.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the agency is working to bridge the gap between research, production and commercialisation of local innovations.

He said NASENI is positioning itself to scale up renewable energy manufacturing, including solar panels and street lighting systems, through its initiatives such as “DefFrontier”, in a bid to strengthen local capacity and reduce importation.

“NASENI would 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 would also work to ensure that Nigeria’s renewable energy needs, particularly those of the REA, are met through locally produced solutions.

According to him, the objective is to move away from the continuous importation of technologies and equipment, and instead build domestic capacity for the production of renewable energy systems and components.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of REA, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the agreement as a strategic step towards building a sustainable renewable energy ecosystem driven by local manufacturing.

He said while NASENI would provide manufacturing and technological capacity, REA would focus on deployment and expansion of electricity access across rural Nigeria.

“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.

Aliyu noted that the partnership would also help accelerate the Federal Government’s efforts to close the energy access gap, particularly in underserved and off-grid communities.

The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr. Adebowale Abraham Adedokun, said the agreement reflects the objectives of the “Nigeria First Policy”, which prioritises local content, transparency and value for public spending.

He explained that the policy is designed to ensure that government procurement processes strengthen domestic industries while guaranteeing accountability and measurable results.

Adedokun stressed that the implementation of the MoU would be performance-driven, with strict monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance and delivery of outcomes.

He added that the collaboration between NASENI and REA represents a model for how public institutions can align policy with practical execution in critical sectors such as energy.

Under the agreement, implementation will be carried out through NASENI’s subsidiary, NASENI DevFrontier Green Energy FZE, and REA’s special purpose vehicle, RAMCo.

Both agencies will work together to ensure that REA offtakes photovoltaic (PV) modules, inverters and energy storage batteries produced by NASENI-DevFrontier Green Energy FZE, either directly or through approved distribution and manufacturing partners.

As part of the arrangement, REA will also provide institutional support to enable NASENI’s participation in electrification projects across the country.

It will further facilitate engagement opportunities between NASENI and eligible developers and contractors under REA programmes, while ensuring compliance with procurement rules, local content requirements and transparency standards.

The agencies are also expected to collaborate on promoting standardised, high-quality solar technologies across REA’s electrification programmes.

The partnership is expected to significantly boost local manufacturing capacity, create jobs, and accelerate access to reliable electricity in rural communities, while reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported renewable energy technologies.