The Federal Government has intensified efforts to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported solar products, with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) signing a partnership to accelerate local solar manufacturing under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy.
The agreement, facilitated by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), will see NASENI supply locally manufactured solar solutions for REA’s electrification projects nationwide, replacing imported products with made-in-Nigeria alternatives.
Speaking after the signing, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, disclosed that Nigeria spent more than ₦400 billion importing solar products in 2025 and over ₦200 billion in the first half of 2026 alone.
He said the figures underscore the urgent need to expand domestic manufacturing capacity, reduce import dependence, create jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.
Halilu noted that the partnership aligns with NASENI’s investment in Nigeria’s first 40-hectare Solar Industrial Park in Gora, Nasarawa State. The facility is expected to boost local solar production, meet rising energy demand and position Nigeria as a renewable energy manufacturing hub in Africa.
According to him, the collaboration demonstrates how government institutions can work together to translate policy into measurable economic outcomes by supporting local industry, retaining value within the economy and driving sustainable industrialisation.
The initiative is one of the practical steps being taken to implement the Nigeria First Policy, which prioritises locally produced goods and services in government procurement to stimulate domestic production, expand employment opportunities and reduce the country’s reliance on imports.
