The Federal Government has earmarked a whopping N1.99 billion for diesel to power generators at the State House in 2025, following delays in its planned solar power project.
Initially scheduled to be operational by December 2024 for the State House Medical Centre and by January 2025 for the larger complex, including Dodan Barracks, the solar project has yet to make any significant progress.
While a 1.2MW solar plant commenced at the medical centre in October 2024, checks in February 2025 showed no visible work at the State House.
Records from GovSpend, a civic tech platform tracking government expenditures, cited by The Punch reveal that N88.75 million was spent on diesel in the first half of 2024.
Payments between March 15 and May 20 show multiple disbursements, including N40.77 million to Emmahaly Petroleum Company Limited and N26.23 million to A.Y.M. Shafa Limited for diesel supplied to the State House and Vice President’s Guest House.
Due to ongoing instability in the national grid, officials say the State House has had no choice but to rely on diesel-powered generators.
A source familiar with the solar project described the current energy expenses as unsustainable, stating, “It is difficult to sustain. We cannot continue like this.”
The official emphasized that the shift to solar would significantly cut costs, reducing the State House’s annual N6 billion energy bill by at least 80%.
“We are constructing solar roof canopies over car parks to avoid disrupting the aesthetics of the State House. The cables will be linked to a battery plant to store energy,” the source added.
Despite these efforts, Nigeria’s power sector continues to struggle with ageing infrastructure and recurrent grid failures.
In 2024 alone, the grid collapsed over ten times, leaving the Federal Capital Territory in darkness.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria attributed these failures to system disturbances but did not provide further details.
Meanwhile, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) had issued a 10-day disconnection notice to 86 government agencies, including the State House, over a combined N47.1 billion debt. AEDC claimed the State House owed N923 million, but a subsequent letter confirmed the actual debt as N342.35 million, which President Bola Tinubu later approved for immediate settlement.
For now, with no clear timeline for the solar project’s completion, the State House will continue to rely on diesel-powered generators, with taxpayers footing the bill.
