At a time when many Nigerians are grappling with escalating electricity tariffs and unreliable power supply, the Federal Government has approved a ₦10 billion project to install a solar-powered mini-grid at the Presidential Villa.

The initiative, listed in the 2025 national budget as “Solarisation of the Villa with Solar Mini Grid,” is captured under capital expenditure. It accounts for the ₦10 billion increase in the State House’s budget, which rose from ₦47.11 billion in the initial draft to ₦57.11 billion in the final version. Capital spending within that figure grew from ₦33.55 billion to ₦43.55 billion.

Widening Gap Between Government and Citizens

This move has sparked widespread public concern, as citizens continue to deal with sharp increases in electricity bills. Band A consumers — who are supposed to receive at least 20 hours of power daily — saw rates jump from ₦68 per kilowatt hour in April 2024 to ₦225. Although the tariff was later reduced, it still sits at ₦209.5/kWh as of July 2024.

While everyday Nigerians face these rising costs, the Presidency is making a significant investment to secure its own power supply — sparking debate about fairness and government priorities.

Rising Bills at the State House

The solar installation appears to be a response to rising electricity costs at the Villa. In 2024, the State House spent ₦483.34 million on electricity, an increase of over 40% from the ₦344.82 million spent in 2023. A large portion of that came in October, when the government paid ₦316.88 million in backdated bills.

In February 2024, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) named the State House among its biggest debtors, with an outstanding balance of ₦923.87 million. Following a review, the debt was reduced to ₦342.35 million and cleared on the orders of President Bola Tinubu.

Despite these rising expenses, the 2025 electricity budget for the State House is set at ₦311.09 million — significantly lower than 2024’s actual spend. This suggests that officials expect the solar project to reduce long-term power costs.