The Federal Government has commenced the construction of a N10 billion solar mini-grid project to power the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, a move that shows both a shift towards renewable energy and a deepening lack of confidence in Nigeria’s ailing national electricity grid.

Large sections of the Villa, including the entire parking lot of the Banquet Hall, the visitors’ parking lot, and the area around the lake have been converted into sites for mounting solar panels, in a clear departure from grid dependence.

Coming at a time when stakeholders are raising concerns on the implementation of the 2025 budget, the solar project, which is part of the 2025 national budget and listed under code ERGP202502463 remained on the front line of implementation.

The project is being implemented by Julius Berger in partnership with renewable energy firms, including Bartum Energy.

Bartum Energy, incorporated in 2016, has actively marketed solar solutions as alternatives to Nigeria’s unreliable public electricity supply.

While the Aso Rock solar power project may signal President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of energy transition and sustainability goals, it also casts a spotlight on the state’s tacit admission of the grid’s failure.

Although Nigeria has about 14,000 megawatts installed electricity capacity, homes and businesses only get about 4,500MW. Of this supply, businesses and homes, especially important services like healthcare, can’t rely on the grid. Most were relying on fossil fuel generators but now turning to solar as the cost of grid supply under Band A consumers and cost of diesel and premium motor spirit surged under the current government.

The cost of the presidential solar project represents more than 17 per cent of the Villa’s capital budget, which went from N47 billion in the initial 2025 proposal to N57 billion at the point of legislative approval.

That sizable allocation has raised fresh questions about fiscal priorities.

Some analysts had insisted that if the government must lead by example in energy reform, it could have first fixed the grid for everyone rather than powering Aso Rock off-grid while the rest of the country struggles.

According to data from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), industrial firms spent over N1 trillion on self-generation through diesel and gas-powered generators in recent years. Households too are increasingly turning to solar panels, inverters, and other off-grid options as blackouts persist.

Nigeria’s grid collapse incidents remain frequent, and overall generation capacity remains stuck below 5,000 MW for a population of over 200 million.

Although the country has one of the highest rates of self-generation globally, this shift, while innovative, has raised concerns about energy inequality, poor infrastructure planning, and the slow pace of grid modernization. (The Guardian)