WHILE millions of Nigerians continue to endure blackouts and rising electricity bills, the Presidential Villa is switching to solar signalling a quiet vote of no confidence in the nation’s troubled power grid.
The federal government has approved a ₦10 billion budget for a solar mini-grid to power the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, according to the 2025 budget. The move, which comes amid increasing electricity tariffs and widespread power outages, has sparked fresh concerns about the government’s trust in its own electricity infrastructure and its priorities.
Listed under budget code ERGP202502463, the “Solarisation of the Villa with Solar Mini Grid” project accounts for more than 17 per cent of the Villa’s capital budget, which grew from an initial ₦47 billion to ₦57 billion. Originally, the state house was allocated ₦47 billion in the 2025 budget proposal, but the figure increased to ₦57 billion upon approval. While The ICIR can not confirm the proposed budget details, it might be due to the solar power project.
Despite this shift, the budget still allocates an additional ₦311 million for conventional power supply, raising questions about long-term energy strategy at the presidency.
Widespread struggles, rising costs
The decision comes at a time when the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved a significant tariff hike under its new Band A classification.
These customer, expected to get at least 20 hours of daily power now pay ₦225/kWh, over three times the previous ₦68 rate. While the government insists that only 15 per cent of consumers fall under Band A, many Nigerians have raised concerns over forced or erroneous classifications without corresponding improvements in power supply.
The development elicited reactions from consumers and industry stakeholders who described distribution companies’ failure to meet with power supply as structured by supply-service reflective tariffs as unfair.
Institutions in darkness
On February 11, The ICIR reported that students of the College of Medicine at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, staged a protest in response to a persistent power outage that plagued the institution for over 100 days.
The demonstration, which began at 7:00 a.m. and was supported by the Students’ Union (SU) of the University of Ibadan (UI), saw the students express outrage over the adverse effects of the blackout on their study and healthcare services at the institution.
The power outage at UCH commenced in November 2024 when the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) disconnected the hospital from the national grid due to an outstanding debt of about ₦400 million.
The debt was part of ₦3.1 billion accumulated since 2019, according to a Premium Times report. But it was not limited to the UCH, it is one of the disturbing incidents of power disconnection in key public institutions in Nigeria.
In August 2024, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) disconnected the University of Lagos (UNILAG) from the power grid over an outstanding debt of N472 million.
The university claimed that its monthly electricity bill, previously between N150 million and N180 million, surged to nearly ₦300 million. It noted that the surge followed EKEDC’s decision to upgrade its tariff band from Band B to Band A in June.
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, was also cut off from the national power grid by Kaduna Electric due to its inability to settle outstanding electricity bills in the same year.
The disconnection, which took effect on Thursday, November 28, plunged the institution into darkness.
According to a bulletin issued by the university’s management on Friday, November 29, the institution struggled to cope with rising electricity costs. It noted that despite paying over a billion naira in electricity bills to Kaduna Electric since January, the university was said to still owe a huge electricity debt.
‘FG lost faith in the National Grid’
The President of the Electricity Consumer Protection Advocacy Centre (ECPAC), Princewill Okorie, questioned the Presidency’s faith in the national grid power with the migration of Aso Villa from the national grid to solar-powered electricity.
He noted that the allocation for solar at the Villa reveals how the government’s priorities continue to ignore the structural energy challenges faced by ordinary Nigerians.
“It is clear that our power sector policy managers are confused. If the Aso Villa is migrating to solar-powered electricity, it means that they have lost faith in the national grid power supply. What can the ordinary Nigerian do in this case, with the cost of solar largely out of the reach of the common man?
“Also, if 36 state governments at the sub-national level decide to go through with solar with a weak local production, it means we’re exporting jobs, and it also shows how weak our power sector reform is despite the government’s assurances,” he said.
“The government has lots of questions to answer on this. The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has promoted Bands A, B, C, and D to facilitate the efficient running of the power sector. How come the Presidency is now migrating to solar?” he queried.
Okorie also berated the power sector managers, whom he described as ‘confused’ in managing the power sector affairs, adding that Nigerians option to solar is largely because of failed power sector reforms.
“Emphasis is always on tariff hike without commensurate impact on electricity supply to electricity users,” he added.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M