The Federal Government has earmarked ₦100bn in the 2025 Budget, pending approval by the National Assembly, to install solar mini-grids at selected government institutions, federal universities, and their teaching hospitals.
Abba Aliyu, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), stated that once the 2025 budget is passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, his agency will begin implementing solar mini-grids in government institutions.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Aliyu explained that the funding is part of the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative under the Federal Ministry of Power.
“This initiative is designed to reduce the cost of governance. ₦100bn has been allocated for it, and we will use this funding to solarize all public institutions,” he said.
Aliyu also noted that the government analyzed the costs incurred by public institutions for diesel and generators. “To address this, the funding will be used to solarize these institutions,” he added.
“I will also share that we have begun solarizing the public sector, focusing on key government parastatals both within and outside Abuja.
“The University College Hospital (UCH) is one of the five institutions we plan to start with. We are also targeting the University of Lagos, and the Minister of Power has visited Ibadan. Our goal is to include the University of Ibadan along with its teaching hospital, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Ahmadu Bello University,” said Aliyu.
He further stated that within the next six months, the REA aims to commission at least 60 mini-grids and begin deploying 40 interconnect grids to enhance reliability.
Aliyu highlighted that his agency had already completed interventions in various universities and teaching hospitals across the country.
“We recently completed a hybrid mini-grid intervention at seven universities and two teaching hospitals, ensuring they have 24-hour, reliable, and cost-effective electricity. For example, at the University of Maiduguri, we deployed a 12-megawatt system to power the university and its teaching hospital, with the potential to also supply power to the only water treatment plant in the Maiduguri metropolitan area.
“We are now rolling out another phase with interventions at eight universities and one teaching hospital. Commissioning for this new phase is expected to begin as early as April this year,” he added.
