The Federal Government has earmarked ₦100 billion in the proposed 2025 budget, pending approval by the National Assembly, to install solar mini-grids in selected government institutions, federal universities, and their teaching hospitals.
Abba Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), stated that once the budget is approved and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, his agency will commence the project. The initiative aims to deliver reliable, affordable, and eco-friendly power to these institutions.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Aliyu explained that the funding falls under the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative, overseen by the Federal Ministry of Power.
It’s “a new concept designed to reduce the cost of governance. N100bn has been allocated for it. We are going to use that funding to solarise the entire public institutions”, he said.
The head of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) revealed that the current administration reviewed the expenses incurred by public institutions on diesel and generators. “To tackle this issue, the government is providing funding to transition these institutions to solar power,” he stated.
“In the next six months, I will tell you that I have started the process of deploying mini-grids in an additional five universities. I will tell you that I have completed at least two of the eight mini-grids that I am deploying in the eight universities and one teaching hospital.
“I will also tell you that I have started solarising the public sector. We are looking at some key government parastatals in Abuja and outside Abuja.
“The UCH is part of the five that we are looking at starting. We are looking at starting at the University of Lagos. The minister of power was in Ibadan. We want to do the University of Ibadan plus the teaching hospital; Obafemi Awolowo University; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Ahmadu Bello University.”
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) stated that within the next six months, his agency plans to commission at least 60 mini-grids and initiate the deployment of 40 interconnect grids to enhance power reliability.
He noted that the agency has already completed electrification projects in several universities and teaching hospitals across the country.
“We recently completed intervention in seven universities and two teaching hospitals where we provided them with hybrid mini-grids that will provide them with 24-hour reliable, cost-effective electricity,” Aliyu said.
Citing an example, he added, “For example is the University of Maiduguri where we deployed 12 megawatts-capacity powering the university and the teaching hospital and has the potential to even power the only water treatment plant within the Maiduguri metropolitan. These are the types of interventions.”
Aliyu further revealed that the agency has now embarked on a new phase targeting eight universities and one teaching hospital. “The commissioning of the new phase will start as early as April this year,” he said.
