ASO ROCK’S ₦10BN SOLAR POWER INITIATIVE

  It’s a positive step toward a more sustainable energy future, argues ADE ADESOKAN 

The federal government has allocated ₦10 billion in the 2025 approved budget for the installation of a solar mini-grid at Aso Rock Presidential Villa. The project, titled “Solarisation of the Villa with Solar Mini Grid,” is listed under capital expenditure and accounts for a significant portion of the State House’s budget increase from ₦47 billion to ₦57 billion. The move is aimed at reducing dependence on the National Grid and addressing rising electricity costs.

This investment reflects a notable shift toward renewable solutions but highlights the need for more comprehensive strategies to address Nigeria’s persistent energy crisis. While the Presidential Power Initiative has been a focal point of government efforts, alternative approaches deserve serious consideration to create lasting change in the national energy landscape.

Nigeria’s energy challenges require multi-faceted solutions beyond isolated projects benefiting government institutions. Decades of grid instability, insufficient generation capacity, and distribution inefficiencies have stunted economic growth and affected millions of Nigerians who endure daily power outages. The question becomes not whether the Aso Rock solar project has merit, but whether it signals a genuine commitment to transformative energy reform nationwide.

The solarization of Aso Rock follows a global trend among government houses and official residences worldwide. The White House has utilized solar energy since 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, with subsequent upgrades under Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Obama. Buckingham Palace is incorporating solar panels as part of King Charles III’s clean energy vision for the British monarchy, while the Elysée Palace in France is being fitted with geothermal panels to reduce dependence on public energy sources. These initiatives don’t represent a lack of confidence in national energy systems but rather demonstrate leadership in sustainable practices.

Solar energy represents the future as the world gradually transitions from fossil fuels to renewable sources with less environmental impact. By installing solar panels at Aso Rock, which is not personal property but the official residence of Nigeria’s Head of State, the government is leading by example and potentially reducing costs for taxpayers. This approach also helps alleviate pressure on the National Grid, allowing it to direct scarce power to areas of greatest need, including rural communities and industrial zones. Rather than condemning this initiative, Nigerians should recognize it as a positive step toward a more sustainable energy future.

Recent developments suggest growing momentum for meaningful change in Nigeria’s broader energy landscape. The federal government’s $328.8 million contract signing with China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) marks a significant step in addressing electricity supply challenges. This contract, part of the Presidential Power Initiative’s first phase, focuses on rehabilitating and constructing critical 330kV and 132kV transmission lines. Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu described this agreement as “a major leap” in revolutionizing Nigeria’s power sector, strategically dividing projects into two priority batches comprising seven brownfield and 10 greenfield lines totaling 544km with a load capacity of 7,140 megawatts.

This follows the successful deployment of 10 state-of-the-art power transformers and 10 mobile substations from Siemens Energy, already adding 700MW to transmission capacity at locations including Okene, Amukpe, Potiskum, and Apo. The minister emphasized that these infrastructure improvements will serve as “arteries carrying increased power generated through mainstream transmission projects directly to homes, businesses, and industries.”

A particularly significant reform has been the unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) into the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and the Transmission Service Provider (TSP). This structural transformation, mandated by the Electricity Act of 2023, represents a crucial step toward addressing systemic inefficiencies in the power sector. By separating system operation from transmission services, the government aims to enhance accountability, improve operational performance, and attract greater investment in transmission infrastructure. This unbundling follows successful models implemented in more developed electricity markets worldwide, where specialized entities focus on their core competencies rather than attempting to manage disparate functions under one organizational umbrella.

The impact of the 2023 Electricity Act is already visible at the state level, with several states taking control of their electricity markets and reporting meaningful improvements. Enugu, Ekiti, Ondo, and Imo have successfully transitioned to managing their own electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, with regulatory oversight fully transferred to them. This decentralization has allowed these states to develop solutions tailored to local conditions and needs. In Enugu, modifications to pre-existing market arrangements have improved electricity distribution reliability, while Ekiti and Ondo have implemented new strategies focused on reducing outages and improving grid stability. Imo has made significant progress expanding access to electricity in previously underserved areas through regulatory optimization.

Other states including Oyo, Edo, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun, and Niger are in various stages of completing their regulatory transitions. Once finalized, these states are expected to experience similar improvements in grid management, infrastructure investment, and service delivery. This state-level empowerment represents a promising complement to federal initiatives, creating a more responsive and adaptable electricity ecosystem nationwide.

While these initiatives demonstrate commitment to addressing transmission bottlenecks and regulatory challenges, Nigeria would benefit from additional complementary strategies. Community-based mini-grids powered by renewable sources could provide reliable electricity to underserved areas while reducing dependence on national infrastructure. These localized systems have proven effective in similar contexts across Africa, delivering power to communities that might otherwise wait decades for grid connection.

The existing regulatory framework, despite recent advances like the Electricity Act of 2023, still contains barriers that discourage private investment and innovation in the energy sector. Streamlining approval processes, ensuring cost-reflective tariffs, and providing long-term policy stability would attract significant private capital to expand generation capacity and modernize distribution infrastructure. Countries like Kenya and Rwanda have demonstrated how regulatory clarity can rapidly accelerate energy sector development.

Public-private partnerships, exemplified by the government’s collaboration with CMEC and Siemens Energy, offer a path forward that should be expanded. Kenny Anuwe, Managing Director of FGN Power Company, highlighted how these partnerships leverage specialized expertise: “Siemens, known for its strengths in advanced technology and innovation, does not specialise in distribution lines. This partnership with CMEC will ensure the highest quality and efficiency in delivering the necessary infrastructure.” Nigeria could further leverage private sector capital while maintaining strategic oversight of essential infrastructure to accelerate deployment of both conventional and renewable energy solutions.

Nigeria possesses abundant technical talent but often lacks specialized knowledge in emerging energy technologies. The collaborations with international firms present opportunities not just for infrastructure development but for knowledge transfer and technical training. This approach would address immediate energy needs while building long-term capabilities for indigenous innovation in the sector.

The energy mix represents another area ripe for development. While Nigeria has emphasized gas power plants and large hydroelectric facilities, a broader portfolio including solar, wind, biomass, and small-scale hydro would create a more resilient system. Each region could prioritize the resources most abundant locally, reducing transmission requirements and creating a naturally distributed generation network.

The path forward requires sustained political commitment, transparent governance, and long-term thinking that transcends electoral cycles. President Tinubu’s vision that “electricity is the right of every Nigerian” demands execution across multiple fronts simultaneously. The combination of federal initiatives like the Presidential Power Initiative, structural reforms such as the TCN unbundling, and state-level empowerment through the Electricity Act of 2023 suggests a multi-layered approach taking shape. By continuing to pursue these complementary strategies while addressing remaining barriers to investment and innovation, Nigeria can build the reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy system its people deserve and its economy requires.

 Adesokan is a public affairs commentator