BPP midwifes NASENI-REA deal to manufacture solar in Nigeria, cut $400bn import bill

NASENI-REA deal targets local solar production, jobs, and cheaper electricity under “Nigeria First” push

Nigeria is moving to end its dependence on imported solar equipment after the Federal Government midwifed a landmark agreement between the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, and the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, to domesticate renewable energy manufacturing.

The Memorandum of Understanding, signed in Abuja Monday, commits both agencies to ramp up local production of solar panels, batteries, inverters and other components.

Officials say the deal is designed to slash Nigeria’s estimated $400 billion annual import bill for energy hardware, create jobs, and drive down the cost of electricity for millions of Nigerians.

The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, who oversaw the MOU signing, described it as a direct implementation of the “Nigeria First” policy championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said the procurement reforms now being enforced will prioritize Nigerian manufacturers in the energy supply chain.

“This is action, not talk,” Adedokun told stakeholders at the ceremony. “The President’s mandate is clear: we must build local capacity, protect Nigerian jobs, and ensure that public money delivers real infrastructure. With NASENI and REA leading, we will stop exporting jobs and start exporting solar technology.”

Under the agreement, NASENI will leverage its engineering and R&D capacity to produce and test solar equipment, while REA will integrate the “Made in Nigeria” components into its national electrification projects, mini-grids and rural power programmes.

REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu said the partnership would immediately address one of the biggest bottlenecks in Nigeria’s energy transition: high cost and delays from foreign imports.

“For years we’ve shipped billions of dollars abroad to buy what we can build here,” Aliyu said. “This MOU changes that. Local manufacturing means faster deployment, lower costs, and thousands of direct and indirect jobs for our youths and engineers.”

Energy analysts note that Nigeria imports over 80% of its solar components despite having the sun, raw materials and technical talent to produce locally.

The new deal aligns with Tinubu’s broader industrialization agenda and the administration’s push to make Nigeria a manufacturing hub for Africa.

The BPP boss warned that strict procurement compliance will be enforced. “No Objection Certificates will only go to projects that meet local content thresholds,” Adedokun stated. “We are done with the era where procurement approvals are just paperwork. Every Naira must deliver value.”

If fully implemented, the NASENI-REA collaboration could mark a turning point for Nigeria’s renewable energy sector, shifting it from import-dependent to export-capable, while supporting the government’s goal of universal electricity access by 2030.