Nigeria’s presidential complex, Aso Rock Villa, is set to disconnect completely from the national electricity grid and operate on an independent solar power system as the Federal Government moves to tackle what it describes as an unsustainable annual electricity bill of about ₦47 billion.
The transition follows the completion of the Aso Rock solar project, a mini-grid initiative approved under the administration of Bola Tinubu to provide a more reliable and cost-effective energy supply for the nation’s seat of power in Abuja.
Speaking to lawmakers earlier this year, State House Permanent Secretary Temitope Fashedemi disclosed that the solar installation was completed towards the end of 2025 and had remained under technical evaluation ahead of a full switchover.
“The solar installation at the Villa was completed toward the end of 2025 and has remained under technical evaluation. We are hopeful that by March we will be able to effect a full cutover,” Fashedemi said.
The project received ₦10 billion in the 2025 budget under the “Solarisation of the Villa with Solar Mini Grid” programme. An additional ₦7 billion was approved in the 2026 budget, bringing total government funding to approximately ₦17 billion.
Officials say the initiative is designed to reduce energy costs, improve power reliability and lessen dependence on diesel generators that have long served as backup power sources for the presidential complex.
Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, said the Villa’s electricity expenditure had become increasingly difficult to justify.
“It is unsustainable for the Aso Rock Villa to continue to pay about ₦47 billion yearly in power bills,” Abdullahi stated, noting that the solar project was approved to cut costs and diversify energy sources.
Large sections of the presidential complex, including open spaces and car parks, have already been equipped with solar panels and battery storage systems capable of delivering uninterrupted power.
Although backup generators will remain in place, officials expect the Villa’s reliance on diesel-powered generation to decline significantly once the transition is completed.
The development comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges. Despite years of reforms, the country continues to experience frequent grid collapses, power outages and inadequate electricity supply, forcing millions of homes, businesses and public institutions to depend on generators.
The project has generated mixed reactions. Supporters see it as a practical investment in renewable energy and energy security, while critics argue it sends the wrong signal about confidence in the national electricity network.
Princewill Okorie of the Electricity Consumer Protection Advocacy Centre said the decision suggested the government itself no longer trusted the national grid to provide reliable electricity.
The Aso Rock solar project forms part of broader efforts by the Tinubu administration to promote renewable energy solutions. However, the presidency has yet to indicate whether similar solar-powered systems will be extended to other federal government institutions across the country.
