The President Bola Tinubu-led administration has allocated another ₦7 billion for the solarisation of the Presidential Villa, following a similar initiative in 2025.
According to Sahara Reporters, the amount earmarked under the State House expenditures for the 2026 fiscal year is meant to fund the installation of a solar mini-grid for the Villa, which houses the President and top government officials.
The ₦7 billion allocation is listed under the “provision of solarisation of Villa with solar mini-grid” in the recently published Budget Office of the Federation documents.
This marks a continuation of the government’s investment in renewable energy for Aso Rock, after a N10 billion allocation for the same purpose in 2025.
This development comes despite ongoing power challenges faced by the general population in Nigeria, where persistent power failures have triggered widespread criticism of the nation’s energy infrastructure.
The project has faced public backlash, particularly after the ₦10 billion budget in 2025 sparked outrage. Critics questioned the timing of such an expenditure, given the country’s economic difficulties and the ongoing energy crisis affecting millions of Nigerians.
There were also concerns that the initiative reflected the administration’s failure to address the broader issue of stable electricity for the public.
In response to the criticism, the Presidency defended the project, with Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, explaining that the solarisation of Aso Rock was part of a long-term investment in sustainability and energy efficiency.
“The White House in Washington D.C. uses solar power. We are not reinventing the wheel. We are following a tested and globally accepted model for powering important national institutions sustainably,” Onanuga said, positioning the project within international standards for presidential residences.
Power Crisis Across Nigeria
This move to solar energy for the Presidential Villa comes amidst severe power shortages in the country. In April 2025, Nigeria’s national grid experienced a major collapse, leaving most parts of the country without power.
Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed a sharp decline in electricity generation, plummeting from over 2,000 MW to just 139.92 MW within an hour, resulting in nationwide outages.
In September 2025, the grid collapsed again, causing power outages across the country, including in major cities such as Lagos. These incidents have underscored the fragility of Nigeria’s power infrastructure, with a single grid disturbance often leading to widespread blackouts.
Despite efforts to boost power generation, Nigeria continues to struggle with inconsistent electricity supply. As recently as March 2025, the national grid collapsed again after a brief surge in power generation to 6,000 MW. This celebration of a “historic rise” in electricity generation quickly turned to disappointment when power output dropped sharply below 1,000 MW.
The incident highlighted the ongoing challenges in the country’s energy sector, with citizens demanding reliable electricity for their homes and businesses, as well as critical services.