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| Aso Rock’s new solar panels reduce costs |
The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a ₦10 billion solar grid to power the Aso Rock Presidential Villa. This move ends a ₦47 billion annual power bill.
It cost ₦47 billion each year to run Aso Rock on grid power. The bill rose sharply since 2023. It hit unsustainable levels. Director General Mustapha Abdullahi said the villa must save public funds. He led the call for a solar system.
President Bola Tinubu approved ₦10 billion to install solar panels, inverters, batteries, and control gear. This lets the villa run off the sun’s energy. The mini-grid will power the President’s residence, offices, and security posts. It aims to cut waste and boost reliability.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information, said the project matches global best practices. He noted that the White House also uses solar power. Abdullahi said solar is a reliable, long-term option. He pointed to past ECN research on local PV module assembly and cost cuts.
The villa ran on electricity from the national grid, managed by AEDC. The grid failed often. Outages rose from 40 to over 60 hours monthly by 2024. Unpaid debts to AEDC reached ₦923 million in early 2024. Critics called the villa a top debtor.
Energy experts say solar will cut annual bills by about ₦37 billion. A one-time outlay can pay back in two years. They note long solar life of 20–25 years with low upkeep. This frees funds for public services.
Nigeria joins many countries that use solar at top offices. The US White House added solar panels in 2014. France and Germany also back renewables at state residences.This shift shows a global trend toward clean power in key buildings.
Some Nigerians praised the green step. They said it will cut pollution and show leadership on climate.Others blasted the timing. They say citizens still face blackouts and high bills. They see a gap between leadership and the people.
The Federal Government plans wider solar rollout. It aims to make solar affordable for homes by 2026. This Aso Rock project serves as a model.ECN is building a PV assembly plant in Enugu. It will cut import costs and boost job creation.
The Federal Executive Council approved the funding on April 22, 2025. The 2025 budget item reads “Solarisation of the Villa with Solar Mini-Grid.” Funding comes from the Defence Vote and the Renewed Hope Agenda allocation. It will appear as a capital expense in the midyear report.
Solar power will cut carbon emissions by over 5,000 tons yearly. That equals planting 300,000 trees or taking 1,200 cars off roads.Experts say this step can inspire more solar use across government and private sectors.
Work starts in May 2025. Panels go up on roofs and open ground. Batteries and inverters will be housed in secure units. Officials say testing will finish by year’s end. Full switch-over is set for January 2026.
Moving Aso Rock Villa off the grid saves public funds and cuts emissions. It shows Nigeria’s top seat of power can lead on renewable energy.Whether this step kicks off a wider solar boom remains to be seen. But the villa now stands ready to run on clean, cheap power.