The Federal Government has embarked on a N10 billion solar mini-grid project to power the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, signaling a shift towards renewable energy and highlighting the country’s growing lack of confidence in its ailing national electricity grid. The project, which is part of the 2025 national budget, is being implemented by Julius Berger in partnership with renewable energy firms, including Bartum Energy.
Large sections of the Villa, including the parking lots and areas around the lake, have been converted into sites for mounting solar panels, marking a clear departure from grid dependence. This move comes as stakeholders raise concerns about the implementation of the 2025 budget.
While the project may indicate President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of energy transition and sustainability goals, it also underscores the grid’s failure. Nigeria’s electricity grid has been struggling, with homes and businesses relying on self-generation due to frequent blackouts and inadequate supply.
The N10 billion project represents over 17% of the Villa’s capital budget, sparking questions about fiscal priorities. Some analysts argue that if the government wants to lead by example in energy reform, it should prioritize fixing the grid for everyone rather than powering Aso Rock off-grid.
Nigeria’s energy challenges are evident, with industrial firms spending over N1 trillion on self-generation and households increasingly turning to solar panels and off-grid options. The country’s grid collapse incidents remain frequent, and overall generation capacity is stuck below 5,000 MW for a population of over 200 million.
The shift to solar energy, while innovative, raises concerns about energy inequality, poor infrastructure planning, and the slow pace of grid modernization.