The Federal Government on Friday defended its decision to install a ₦10bn solar power system at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, citing the unsustainable ₦47bn annual electricity bill as a key motivation.
Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja.
He said the move was part of efforts to cut governance costs and align with President Bola Tinubu’s clean energy transition agenda.
“This initiative will not only ensure uninterrupted power supply to the Villa, it will also drastically reduce dependence on the national grid, foster innovation, and create jobs for Nigerian engineers and energy professionals,” Abdullahi said.
The announcement comes months after the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) published a list of indebted government institutions.
In a public notice titled ‘Notice of Disconnection’, AEDC revealed that the Presidential Villa alone owed ₦923.87 million in unpaid electricity bills. It also issued a 10-day disconnection ultimatum to 86 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) over a combined ₦47.1bn debt.
Abdullahi stated that the solar installation at the seat of power marks a pivotal shift towards energy diversification in public institutions and sends a strong signal about the administration’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
The move is expected to reduce the Villa’s electricity burden while positioning it as a model for other government institutions facing similar power cost challenges.
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