ASO ROCK TO GO OFF NATIONAL GRID AS N17BN SOLAR PROJECT REACHES FINAL STAGE

ASO ROCK TO GO OFF NATIONAL GRID AS N17BN SOLAR PROJECT REACHES FINAL STAGE


The Aso Rock Presidential Villa is set to disconnect completely from Nigeria’s national electricity grid by March 2026 following the near completion of its solar power installation, the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Temitope Fashedemi, has disclosed. Fashedemi made this known on Wednesday while defending the State House’s 2026 budget before the Senate Committee on Special Duties at the National Assembly in Abuja.

According to him, the solar infrastructure was completed toward the end of 2025 and has been undergoing testing since December. He expressed confidence that the full transition to solar energy would be achieved by March, marking a significant operational shift for the Presidential Villa. He explained that once the cutover is completed, the Villa will rely primarily on solar energy supported by battery storage, drastically reducing dependence on the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and diesel-powered generators.

The Permanent Secretary cited the State House Medical Centre as a practical example of the viability of the project. He noted that the facility completed its solar installation in May 2025 and has since operated almost entirely without generator support. According to him, since the installation, the generator has not been used, while only a minimal percentage of electricity was drawn from AEDC during the testing period, with the majority supplied through solar energy and battery systems.

The Federal Government had earlier allocated N10 billion in the 2025 budget for the solar mini-grid project at the Presidential Villa, while the 2026 Appropriation Bill includes an additional N7 billion for the initiative, bringing the total allocation to N17 billion. The project has generated public discussion, particularly amid Nigeria’s ongoing power supply challenges. Government officials, however, have defended the investment as a long-term cost-saving and sustainability measure designed to reduce recurrent electricity expenses.

The Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, previously stated that it was financially unsustainable for the Villa to continue incurring an estimated N47 billion annually in electricity costs. Prior to the solar initiative, the State House had accumulated electricity debts. In February 2024, AEDC listed the Presidential Villa among major government debtors with an outstanding bill of N923.87 million. Following reconciliation, the figure was revised to N342.35 million, which was subsequently settled.

Fashedemi also informed lawmakers that during the testing phase of the solar installation, discrepancies were discovered in electricity billing. He stated that some transformers appeared to have been billing for power not supplied, and discussions are ongoing to reconcile legacy liabilities. He added that once the solar transition is fully completed, the ageing generators installed when the Villa was constructed may no longer require replacement, except for limited backup purposes.

During the budget session, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Kaka Lawan (Borno Central), raised concerns over the N127 million allocation for sport utility vehicles in the State House budget, describing the provision as inadequate for official engagements involving visiting dignitaries. He directed the Budget Office of the Federation to reassess the allocation to reflect operational realities, while commending the State House for appearing before the committee as scheduled.

The planned disconnection of the Presidential Villa from the national grid represents a notable shift in government energy strategy and underscores broader efforts to adopt renewable energy solutions within public institutions.

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