The Federal Government has defended its decision to install solar panels at the Aso Rock Villa, explaining that the annual ₦47 billion power bill for the presidential seat of power is unsustainable.
Mustapha Abdulahi, Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, revealed that President Bola Tinubu approved ₦10 billion for the solar power grid project to help reduce the ongoing financial burden.
During a press briefing on Friday, Abdulahi emphasized that the solar installation aligns with the President’s agenda to diversify energy sources and reduce governance costs. He also highlighted the benefits of the project, including providing uninterrupted, clean energy, creating jobs, stimulating innovation among Nigerian engineers and energy experts, and alleviating pressure on the national grid.
Abdulahi further shared that innovations under the current administration have sparked interest from development partners, with approximately $5.3 billion in investments earmarked for Nigeria’s power sector, particularly for grid expansion initiatives.