FG plans alternative electricity in UCH, UNILAG, to install ₦100bn solar mini-grids

In the 2025 budget, which is pending approval by the National Assembly, the Federal Government has set aside ₦100 billion to install solar mini-grids in a number of government buildings, federal universities, and associated teaching hospitals.

Abba Aliyu, the head of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), stated that the National Public Sector Solarization Initiative is the source of the money.

Abba Aliyu stated that his organization would start working to deliver dependable, affordable, and environmentally friendly power for government facilities as soon as President Bola Tinubu signs the budget into law.

Aliyu stated on Tuesday that the funds are part of the Federal Ministry of Power’s National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative.

“It’s a novel idea intended to lower the cost of governance. It has been allotted N100 billion. We intend to utilise that funding to solarise all public institutions,” he declared.

According to the head of REA, the current administration examined the amount of money spent by government agencies on diesel and generator sets. “Funding is being provided for us to solarise the institutions in order to address that,” he stated.

Students of the University of Ibadan staged a protest against a 100-day power outage at the University College Hospital (UCH) on Monday, with Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu assuring the displeased undergraduates that electricity would be restored in their institution.

The electrification agency boss said solar mini-grids would be deployed to the institution and four others across the country to address the situation.

“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. We want to do the University of Ibadan plus the teaching hospital; Obafemi Awolowo University; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Ahmadu Bello University.”

In order to establish reliability, the REA chief stated that his organization would commission a minimum of 60 mini-grids and begin the process of deploying 40 interconnect grids within the next six months.

According to Aliyu, his organization has already finished interventions in a few teaching hospitals and institutions around the nation.

“We recently finished an intervention in seven universities and two teaching hospitals where we installed hybrid mini-grids that will give them reliable, affordable electricity around the clock,” he said.

“For example, the University of Maiduguri, where we deployed 12 megawatts-capacity powering the university and the teaching hospital, has the potential to even power the only water treatment plant within the Maiduguri metropolitan. These are the types of interventions.

“We have now started a new line of eight universities and one teaching hospital. The commissioning of the new phase will start as early as April this year.”