Backlash trails FG’s ₦10bn solar plan for Aso Rock

The Nigerian government is facing backlash following reports that over ₦10 billion has been approved to install a solar mini-grid for Aso Rock, effectively taking the Presidential Villa off the national electricity grid.

According to a report by Punch, the controversial solar project is part of the recently increased ₦57.11 billion 2025 budget for the State House. The ₦10bn ($6.2M) allocation is specifically earmarked to “solarize” the Presidential Villa, a move authorities claim is aimed at cutting electricity costs and shielding the presidency from erratic power supply and imminent tariff hikes.

The news has since sent the social media abuzz, with “NEPA” trending as Nigerians question why the presidency is opting out of the national grid while millions of citizens continue to grapple with poor electricity services and inflated bills.

The decision comes amid growing dissatisfaction over recent tariff adjustments, especially for customers under Band A, and looming increases for Band B users. Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had hinted earlier that Band B tariffs may soon align with the newly hiked Band A rates.

It would be recalled that in February 2024, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) disclosed that the Presidential Villa owed ₦923.87 million in unpaid electricity bills, contributing to the federal government’s staggering ₦4 trillion electricity debt. President Tinubu, however, ordered a review, and the figure was slashed to ₦342.35 million—with a directive that it be paid within 10 days starting February 19.

The presidency’s move is reportedly not just about savings, but also a response to the challenges of estimated billing and unreliable supply—even at the highest level of government.

Still, the optics have triggered a fierce public reaction. Many Nigerians now question the government’s commitment to fixing the national grid when the number one citizen is opting out entirely.

“How can Aso Rock go solar because of bad power supply—what does that mean for the rest of us?” one user queried on X (formerly Twitter).

While there is speculation that other government institutions might also follow suit with solarisation, critics argue that such projects should first focus on hospitals, schools, and communities without access to electricity.