How to develop D-pad navigation in React Native?

I am using React Native to develop an ODG R-7 smart glasses app that runs on Android 4.4 KitKat. I would like to develop D-pad navigation as stated at https://developer.android.com/training/tv/start/navigation.html .

I believe the key would be to set the nextFocusDown, nextFocusUp, nextFocusLeft, nextFocusRight properties of the underlying Java components correctly. I just don't know how.

Has anyone done this work and how?