The Federal Government has provided clarification on the recent installation of solar panels at the Aso Rock Villa. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, stated that continuing to pay approximately ₦47 billion annually for electricity is no longer sustainable. This, he said, prompted President Bola Tinubu’s approval of ₦10 billion for the deployment of a solar power grid to supply energy to the presidential residence.
In 2024, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) had published a notice titled “Notice of Disconnection,” revealing that the Villa owed ₦923.87 million in unpaid electricity bills. The notice also warned the Villa and 86 other government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) of a potential disconnection if their cumulative ₦47.1 billion debt was not cleared within 10 days.
Speaking to the press on Friday, Abdullahi emphasized that the transition to solar energy aligns with President Tinubu’s broader goals to diversify Nigeria’s energy mix and reduce the cost of governance. He noted that the initiative would ensure reliable and clean energy for the Villa, generate employment, encourage innovation among local engineers and energy professionals, and help ease the burden on the national power grid.
Source : https://www.vanguardngr.com/
