- 15 federal universities and teaching hospitals were electrified with 35.5MW hybrid solar grids.
- The goal is to provide 24-hour electricity to 350,000 students and 50,000 lecturers.
- $550m Nigeria Electrification Project funded by World Bank and African Development Bank.
The Federal Government has electrified 15 universities and teaching hospitals with hybrid solar grids totalling 35.5 megawatts. Abba Aliyu, CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency, disclosed this at the Alliance for Rural Electrification Energy Access Forum in Lagos.
The goal is to provide 24-hour electricity to 350,000 students and enable 50,000 lecturers to access electricity. The Nigeria Electrification Project, funded by the World Bank and African Development Bank, is a $550 million initiative.
One notable installation is a 12MW solar grid at the University of Maiduguri and its teaching hospital. Other beneficiaries include the University of Abuja, the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, and the Nigerian Defence Academy.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, will launch the projects in these institutions within the next two months. Similar initiatives are underway at the University of Port Harcourt, the University of Uyo, and various federal universities nationwide.
Over 150 mini-grids have been deployed nationwide, focusing on improving energy access in healthcare facilities. Additionally, an interconnected mini-grid in Ondo State will serve approximately 6,000 households.
Aliyu acknowledged concerns about the geographical spread of projects and emphasised the agency’s commitment to scaling up operations. President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a $750 million World Bank loan is a significant step towards constructing 1,200 mini-grids in rural communities nationwide. This initiative, part of the renewable energy scale-up project, addresses energy poverty and promotes sustainable development across Nigeria.