The Federal Government has allocated ten billion naira in the twenty twenty-five budget for the installation of a solar mini-grid at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to official records, the project, titled “Solarisation of the Villa with Solar Mini Grid,” is listed under capital expenditure, contributing to an increase in the State House budget from forty-seven point one one billion naira to fifty-seven point one one billion naira.
Capital spending alone rose by ten billion naira, moving from thirty-three point five five billion naira to forty-three point five five billion naira.
This development comes as Nigerians continue to grapple with rising electricity costs, especially Band A consumers, whose tariff increased from sixty-eight naira per kilowatt-hour in April twenty twenty-four to two hundred- and nine-point five naira by July.
Records show that the State House spent a total of four hundred and eighty-three point three four million naira on electricity in twenty twenty-four — a forty percent increase from the three hundred and forty-four point eight two million naira spent in twenty twenty-three.
A major portion of the twenty twenty-four spending came in October, when the Presidency paid three hundred and sixteen point eight eight million naira to settle accumulated bills.
Earlier in February, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company listed the State House among its top debtors with an outstanding balance of nine hundred and twenty-three point eight seven million naira. This was later reconciled and reduced to three hundred and forty-two point three five million naira, which was paid off following a directive by President Bola Tinubu.
For twenty twenty-five, the Federal Government has earmarked three hundred and eleven point zero nine million naira for electricity at the State House, lower than the previous year’s actual spending — a sign of anticipated savings from the new solar mini-grid project.
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