News Agency of Nigeria
FEC approves ₦68.7bn for power projects

FEC approves ₦68.7bn for power projects

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By Muhyideen Jimoh

‎The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N68.7 billion for key electricity projects in universities and teaching hospitals across Nigeria.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this after Thursday’s FEC meeting, chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

He said the projects reflect the government’s resolve to ensure steady electricity supply in vital sectors like health and education.

The university project involves engineering, procurement, and construction under the Energising Education Programme, led by the Rural Electrification Agency.

“This initiative aims to ease the energy cost burden on universities and hospitals by providing reliable, good-quality electricity,” Adelabu stated.

He described the current electricity situation in many institutions as “disturbing” and a threat to effective service delivery.

“The lack of stable power supply has created crisis situations in some schools and hospitals, with institutions unable to afford local electricity,” he explained.

He added that blackouts and occasional industrial actions have occurred due to unreliable power.

Adelabu said similar renewable energy projects have already been implemented in some institutions, supported by the World Bank.

Completed projects include the University of Abuja, University of Niger (12MW solar), and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (8MW).

Others are the Nigerian Defence Academy (2.6MW) and the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, which also uses solar power.

The newly approved funding will support electrification in eight additional universities and teaching hospitals nationwide.

These are: University of Lagos; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Also included are University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Ibadan with its University College Hospital; and University of Calabar.

The Federal University, Wukari is also among the new beneficiaries.

Adelabu said these new projects are expected to be completed within seven to nine months.

“This is another step to ensure our universities enjoy uninterrupted electricity. Our institutions will never be the same again,” he noted.

The second project approved targets Agricultural Centres of Excellence in rural areas using solar energy technology.

“This goes beyond lighting homes; it supports productive use of solar-powered equipment in rural areas,” Adelabu said.

He explained that the aim is to light up rural homes and power agro-processing businesses using solar systems.

The initiative will deliver solar-powered processing tools to small and micro agricultural enterprises in underserved communities. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

FG mulls solar power model for north – Minister

FG mulls solar power model for north – Minister

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By Salif Atojoko

Mr Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, on Monday, said the Federal Government was planning to introduce the distributed solar power model in northern states.

Adelabu said this while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“We believe that the most effective way of supplying uninterrupted, electricity to the northern part of Nigeria is through distributed power model, whereby each of the northern states will have an embedded utility, solar source.

“All the states will be insulated and immune from each other, and we have actually made progress on this.

“We have interested contractors and financiers that are ready to install  a 100 megawatt for each of the 20 northern states, which is scalable to 50 megawatt at first, then upgraded 100 megawatts.

“When we have this, the power supply to the North will be reliable because of the advantage of the sun that they have, where solar will be highly effective,” said Adelabu.

He said with this scheme, the pressure on the national grid from the northern part of Nigeria would be lower, and Nigerians would be able to enjoy better electricity supply.

“When we talk about a final volume of 100 megawatts for each of the northern states, this includes targeting not just households, we looking at offices.

“We’re looking at institutions, both health and educational institutions, and we’re looking at industrial clusters that are the major consumers of power.

“We will start from having 50 megawatt for each of the states, which we believe will go around whatever activities that happen in all of the northern states on a state by state basis,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

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