Nigeria: National solar initiative to power public sector, slash costs

This government-led programme is designed to accelerate the deployment of distributed solar energy solutions across Nigeria’s public sector institutions

The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative (NPSSI) to solarise public institutions and cut governance costs. 

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Nigeria officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Budget Office of the Federation, Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), marking the official launch of the NPSSI Initiative.

This is a government-led programme designed to accelerate the deployment of distributed solar energy solutions across Nigeria’s public sector institutions, including schools, hospitals, security posts, government offices, and more. 

According to the Budget Office of the Federation, the initiative seeks to deploy solar energy infrastructure across the country, benefiting 75.5 million Nigerians, while also encouraging local manufacture, job creation and skill development.

National solar initiative focused on collaboration to close energy gap in Nigeria

Tanimu Yakubu, Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation: “This initiative is proof of our renewed commitment to leveraging innovative financing and sustainable solutions to address critical infrastructure challenges. By working with REA and MOFI, we aim to catalyse funding, build local competencies, and create a ripple effect across the economy.”

REA Nigeria stated that at its core, this initiative was born from a strategic national priority: the urgent need to power essential infrastructure with clean, reliable energy, while transitioning away from diesel dependence and decreasing the public sector’s carbon footprint.” 

Abba Abubakar Aliyu, the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency, said the NPSSI is part of a broader strategy to position Nigeria as the renewable energy hub of Africa while promoting innovation, local manufacturing and sustainability in energy infrastructure financing in Nigeria. 

“What makes this truly remarkable is the collaborative spirit behind it. We are witnessing a new era of inter-agency synergy, driven by creativity, fiscal responsibility, and a shared determination to reduce the cost of governance while meeting our national energy transition goals.”

Dr Femi Ogunseinde, Executive Director of Investments for the Ministry of Finance Incorporated emphasised the importance of fiscal sustainability and scalable projects. “This initiative is a blueprint for how public-private partnerships can drive large-scale impact. By focusing on local manufacturing and innovative funding models, we are laying the foundation for a resilient and self-sufficient economy,” said Ogunseinde.

Cover photo:  REA Nigeria/Facebook