It is an ongoing debate that has seen the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration drubbed from different angles, but others have backed him. It is all about a solar power project in the Presidential residence and office.<\/p>\n
Critics maintain that it raises questions about public confidence in the country’s electricity system, but supporters of the government describe it the project as a prudent cost-cutting initiative.<\/p>\n
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) strongly defended the Federal Government’s decision to install a solar power system at the Presidential Villa, dismissing criticism by former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, as “frivolous,” “uninformed,” and politically motivated.<\/p>\n
The exchange followed Melaye’s criticism of the proposed N17 billion solar power project for Aso Rock, which he claimed was evidence that President Bola Tinubu had “given up” on fixing Nigeria’s electricity sector.<\/p>\n
According to the former senator, the decision by the Presidency to migrate to an off-grid solar power solution signaled a lack of confidence in the national electricity system at a time millions of Nigerians continue to grapple with erratic power supply.<\/p>\n
“When the President says he is off the national grid, that is to tell you he has lost hope in power,” Melaye argued, insisting that the administration should focus on improving electricity for ordinary Nigerians rather than seeking alternative energy solutions for the Presidential Villa.<\/p>\n
However, the pro-Tinubu advocacy group rejected the assertion, describing Melaye’s comments as a deliberate distortion of facts.<\/p>\n
In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, TMSG argued that the solarisation project was conceived as a cost-saving measure that would significantly reduce the huge financial burden associated with powering the State House.<\/p>\n
The group noted that annual electricity costs at the Presidential Villa had reportedly climbed to about N47 billion, excluding the additional costs of diesel procurement and maintenance of ageing generators.<\/p>\n
According to TMSG, the N17 billion solar project represents a one-time capital investment that would eliminate recurring expenditure running into tens of billions of naira every year.<\/p>\n
The group also cited earlier explanations by the State House Permanent Secretary, Temitope Fashola, who told lawmakers during budget defence sessions that the project would save government the enormous cost of replacing obsolete electricity generating plants. It added that the State House Clinic has successfully operated on solar power since May last year, demonstrating the viability of the initiative.<\/p>\n
Beyond the financial savings, TMSG argued that diverting the electricity currently allocated to the Presidential Villa back into the national grid would improve supply to communities within the Federal Capital Territory.<\/p>\n
The group questioned why a former federal lawmaker with years of legislative experience would ignore these considerations.<\/p>\n
“It therefore beggars belief that a former federal lawmaker who has spent a minimum of eight years in the National Assembly and who ordinarily is expected to understand these issues could take to social media to make such a frivolous claim,” the statement said.<\/p>\n
TMSG further rejected Melaye’s suggestion that the Tinubu administration had abandoned efforts to reform the power sector.<\/p>\n
It pointed to recent reforms allowing greater participation by state governments in electricity generation and distribution, continued implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative in partnership with Siemens, efforts to settle outstanding debts owed to electricity generation companies, and the rollout of millions of smart meters aimed at eliminating estimated billing nationwide.<\/p>\n
According to the group, these initiatives demonstrate that the administration remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure while simultaneously adopting renewable energy solutions where they make economic and environmental sense.<\/p>\n
It also noted that the solarisation of the Presidential Villa aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060 under the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative, which seeks to transition government institutions to cleaner energy sources.<\/p>\n
The group concluded by urging Melaye to become better informed on energy policy before making public pronouncements, arguing that his comments misrepresented the facts and risked misleading Nigerians.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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