Nigeria’s struggling electricity sector has come under renewed scrutiny following plans by the presidency to install a ₦10 billion solar power system at the Presidential Villa, raising concerns about the government’s commitment to fixing the national grid.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, during the 2023 campaign, pledged to deliver 15 gigawatts of electricity and ensure round-the-clock power supply within four years. However, nearly three years into the administration, power generation continues to fluctuate between 3,000 and 5,500 megawatts.

The proposed solar project at Aso Rock Presidential Villa, alongside an additional ₦7 billion allocation for upgrades in the 2026 budget, has triggered criticism, with many interpreting the move as a sign of declining confidence in the national grid.

Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, described the development as troubling, arguing that government institutions should lead efforts to strengthen public infrastructure rather than abandon it.

He said the decision sends the wrong signal to millions of Nigerians who remain dependent on a fragile grid plagued by frequent collapses and unreliable supply.

The controversy reflects a broader shift among Nigeria’s elite and corporate sector away from public electricity supply. Across the country, more than 250 manufacturers and large institutions have adopted self-generation, collectively producing about 6,500 megawatts—exceeding average grid output.

Major industrial players, including the Dangote Group, now rely heavily on captive power systems, with the group alone generating approximately 1,500 megawatts for its operations.

Experts warn that this trend is creating a two-tier electricity system, where wealthy individuals and organisations secure independent power while ordinary citizens remain tied to an unreliable grid.

Data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission indicates that available capacity rose modestly from about 4,387 megawatts in 2023 to 5,395 megawatts in 2025. However, actual generation has remained inconsistent due to gas shortages, infrastructure constraints, and transmission bottlenecks.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, revealed that over 10,000 megawatts of installed capacity remains stranded, largely due to weak transmission and distribution systems.

Industry stakeholders say persistent debt across the value chain, inadequate metering, and high operational losses continue to discourage investment in the sector.

Energy analysts also warn that the growing reliance on self-generation is fragmenting the electricity market, diverting billions of naira into private solutions rather than strengthening national infrastructure.

As the administration advances toward the midpoint of its tenure, the gap between policy promises and sector performance remains a major concern.

For many Nigerians, the shift by the presidency toward solar power underscores a deeper reality: while alternative energy solutions may offer relief for the elite, millions of citizens remain dependent on a national grid that continues to fall short of expectations.

The post Aso Rock Solar Plan Sparks Outrage As Power Crisis Persists appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

In August 2024, the Minister of Power had announced that the government would cushion the impact of rising electricity tariffs on hospitals and universities, particularly those on Band A supply—where tariffs increased significantly following the removal of subsidies. Despite this assurance, institutions continue to accumulate massive electricity debts.

“We were assured of government support,” said an official from a federal hospital who preferred anonymity. “But till now, we pay over three times what we used to, with no relief in sight. The burden is affecting operations.”

Reports indicate that some teaching hospitals now spend as much as ₦300 million monthly on electricity, a sharp increase from previous bills of under ₦100 million. Universities and colleges are also struggling under similar conditions.

Consumer advocacy groups have accused the government of making empty political promises. “There was never any formal approval for this subsidy. It was simply a public statement with no policy backing,” said Adeola Samuel-Ilori, National Coordinator of the All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum.

The initial promise by the minister stated, “For the ones that are purely health and education-related, we are ready to subsidise them, even if they are on Band A. Discos will collect a certain amount, and the government will pay the balance.” But insiders say no implementation plan followed.

Energy experts argue the plan may have stalled due to sustainability concerns. “Subsidies are difficult to manage and are prone to abuse,” said Professor Dayo Ayoade of the University of Lagos. “If the government intends to proceed, it must prioritise transparency and sustainability. Investing in solar infrastructure might offer a more lasting solution.”

Indeed, it appears the government may have quietly pivoted to renewable energy as an alternative. According to the Ministry of Power, solar installations are now underway at several institutions, including 12MW for the University of Maiduguri and its teaching hospital, and 7MW for the University of Calabar and its medical facility.

Media aide to the power minister, Bolaji Tunji, confirmed this development. “The Rural Electrification Agency is coordinating efforts to provide off-grid power to 37 federal universities and seven affiliated teaching hospitals,” he said.

These projects include solar mini-grids, street lighting, and renewable energy training centers for students. While the initiative has begun in some locations, others are still waiting for deployment.

Still, the lack of clarity over the original subsidy promise continues to fuel frustration. “For 10 days last year, electricity was cut off at our campus hospital due to unpaid bills,” a medical student in Lagos recounted. “Patients suffered, and students protested. We are still paying exorbitantly.”

With estimates showing the government would require over ₦188 billion annually to fund the proposed 50% subsidy for hospitals and schools, analysts believe fiscal constraints and rising sector debts may have forced a quiet policy reversal.

Meanwhile, institutions remain under pressure. “We want the government to honour its word or give us a clear path forward,” said another university administrator. “It’s not just about bills—it’s about lives and learning.”

The post One Year On, Promised Power Subsidy for Hospitals, Schools Remains Unfulfilled appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

He stated that even institutions on higher tariff bands would benefit. According to him, distribution companies would collect a part of the payment while the government would cover the rest.

No Action, No Relief

One year later, no subsidy has been delivered. Most hospitals and universities still pay huge amounts for electricity. In some cases, bills have risen from ₦100 million to ₦300 million monthly. Many institutions are finding it hard to cope.

Despite the promise, no official policy has been implemented. Several insiders believe the Minister made the announcement without Federal Executive Council approval. A consumer group even called the statement “a political stunt.”

Why the Delay?

Energy experts say subsidy programs are often misused and hard to manage. Professor Dayo Ayoade from the University of Lagos says the government may have paused the plan because it lacked sustainability. He warned that giving money directly to institutions or distribution companies without strong oversight could lead to waste.

Institutions Are Feeling the Pain

Administrators at some public universities and hospitals confirmed that no subsidy has reached them. High electricity bills are affecting their daily operations and budgets. Many now fear disconnection.

Last year, the University of Lagos faced a power cut due to unpaid electricity bills. This situation is not unique  several institutions across Nigeria face similar risks.

A Shift to Solar Power?

The Power Ministry appears to be focusing on solar energy instead. The Rural Electrification Agency has launched projects in several universities and teaching hospitals. These include:

• University of Maiduguri and Teaching Hospital – 12MW

• University of Calabar and Teaching Hospital – 7MW

• Michael Okpara University of Agriculture – 3MW

• Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta – 3MW

• University of Abuja – 3MW

• Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna – 2.5MW

• Federal University Gashua – 1.5MW

While solar power offers long-term savings, it does not solve the current crisis for institutions struggling to pay bills.

What’s Next?

Stakeholders are urging the government to revisit the subsidy promise. They want a clear, sustainable, and transparent plan. Without this, hospitals and schools may continue to suffer.

The government must act fast  not just by planning long-term solutions, but also by delivering the relief it promised.

The post One Year On, Power Subsidy Promise to Schools and Hospitals Fizzles Out appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Managing Director and CEO of NDPHC, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, made the announcement on Thursday during an inspection tour of the Lafia 330/132/33kV Transmission Substation, one of the company’s flagship facilities commissioned in 2022.

Accompanied by key executives—Engr. Kassim Abdullahi (Generation), Dr. Steven Andzenge (Legal Services), and Engr. Bello Babayo Bello (Networks)—Adighije described the Lafia substation as a “world-class” infrastructure critical to stabilising power supply in Nasarawa State and neighbouring regions.

She said the substation, built by NDPHC and handed over to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), is equipped with two 150MVA transformers, two 60MVA transformers, and a 75MVA reactor, and meets global technical standards.

Adighije also noted that despite the ongoing liquidity crisis in the power sector, NDPHC remains committed to delivering transformative infrastructure in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The company has invested heavily in substations, line-bay extensions, and transformers across the country to support the power value chain from gas to electricity,” she said.

She dismissed claims that NDPHC cannot generate power optimally, stating that the real problem lies in insufficient transmission and distribution to absorb what is already being generated.

“We have generation in excess of what transmission can carry. That is the bottleneck, and we’re working to resolve it,” she clarified.

“You need off-takers when you generate. If they’re not taking load, it’s a total waste,” Sule said, calling on DisCos to improve their role in the electricity supply chain.

The post NDPHC Invests N500bn in Power Transmission to Unlock Stranded Electricity Generation appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

At the inauguration of two mini-grid projects in Bakin Ciyawa and Kwande communities, Qua’an Pan LGA, Plateau State, Mr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director of REA (The Rural Electrification Agency), revealed the staggering number.

These mini-grids have a combined capacity of 550KWp and will provide reliable power to over 3,500 households and businesses.

Partnership with European Union and German Government

The projects were funded by an 11 million euro grant from the European Union and the German government. Over 60% of this funding came from the EU and Germany.

Future Plans for Rural Electrification

Aliyu highlighted the federal government’s plan to bring renewable energy to rural areas. The REA aims to energize 3,700 communities in phases, with 100 communities per state.

This initiative will add 370MW of clean energy to Nigeria’s power grid.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability

The solar mini-grids will help reduce carbon emissions significantly. The 550 kWp system will cut 600 tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to removing 130 cars off the road or planting 15,000 trees.

Support from Plateau State Government

Governor Celeb Mutfwang of Plateau State pledged full support for the Nigerian Energy Support Programme. His representative noted that Qua’an LGA is the only area in the state not yet connected to the national power grid.

German Commitment to Rural Power

German Ambassador Karin Jansen reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to enhancing electricity access for rural communities. She said the mini-grids would benefit over 20,000 people in Bakin Ciyawa and Kwande.

Hope for Local Communities

Hubert Isa, representing the two communities, expressed gratitude, saying the projects marked a significant step forward. “This project gives us hope,” he said, “and shows that development is finally reaching our doors.”

The post Nigeria’s REA Reports Over 20,000 Communities Lack Electricity appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

This was revealed by President Bola Tinubu during the recently concluded two-day Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tinubu, whose speech was delivered by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, highlighted the ambitious goal of the energy project, emphasizing the importance of access to reliable electricity for the nation’s development.

The $1.1 billion loan is part of a broader effort to address Nigeria’s energy needs, with an additional $200 million allocated to the Nigeria Electrification Project, which will provide electricity to 500,000 people by the end of 2025.

The president also spoke about other planned investments, including a $1.2 billion AfDB investment in Nigeria’s Desert-to-Power program and a $500 million facility for the Nigeria-Grid Battery Energy Storage System, which will provide electricity to an additional 2 million people.

Tinubu expressed gratitude towards Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, and Akinwunmi Adesina of AfDB for their transformative vision. He also acknowledged the support of the UN Sustainable Energy For All, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Global Energy Alliance for Development.

“We are committed to taking collective action to ensure that all Nigerians have access to affordable and reliable energy,” said Tinubu. He stressed that while Africa is rich in energy resources, millions of citizens still lack access to electricity, a situation that needs urgent attention.

The post Nigeria Secures $1.1 Billion AfDB Loan to Provide Electricity for 5 Million People appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The tremors, which began last weekend and continued intermittently through the night, have unsettled locals, disrupting daily activities and causing anxiety.

The tremors, though milder than earthquakes, have sparked worry due to their persistence in densely populated regions. Comparisons have been drawn to similar incidents reported in Abuja in 2018, when a tremor with a magnitude of 3.2 was recorded near Mpape, attributed to natural geological processes. At that time, authorities reassured the public that there was no imminent threat of an earthquake.

READ ALSO: Housing Project: Constrix Cubes, Abuja’s Latest Real Estate Marvel

However, the current situation has been marked by the absence of official communication from the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment. This silence has fueled frustration among residents, many of whom have taken to social media to express their concerns and demand explanations.

READ ALSO: Wike Blames Market Forces for Rising Housing Costs in Abuja

As the tremors continue, residents are anxiously awaiting a formal response and guidance from authorities regarding the potential causes and future outlook of the situation.

The post Concerns Rise as Earth Tremors Shake Abuja Communities appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

1. President Bola Tinubu, has reacted to the trending video of him tripping at Eagle Square in Abuja on Democracy Day, saying that the mishap was merely a “dobale” or Yoruba gesture of respect, and that democracy was worth falling for. Despite the fall, Tinubu quickly regained his footing and carried on with the scheduled events, emphasizing that the importance of democracy surpassed any temporary embarrassment.

2. State governors have called for the refund of state governments’ full equity investments in the $10bn National Integrated Power Projects that are under the management of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company. The governors under their umbrella body-Nigeria Governors’ Forum-said the Federal Government should refund an equitable rate of return on their investments in the power plants.

3. Amid the commemoration of Democracy Day celebration, activists in Lagos and Abuja, took to the streets to protest against the deepening hunger crisis gripping the nation. Holding banners emblazoned with slogans like: “This hunger is too much” and “Reverse anti-people policies”, they demanded immediate action to alleviate the plight of the starving populace.

READ ALSO: Trending News: Top 10 Stories this Morning

4. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has insisted on N250,000 as minimum wage and faulted President Bola Tinubu’s comment over the matter. President Tinubu during his Democracy Day speech said an executive bill on the new national minimum wage for workers will soon be sent to the National Assembly for passage. But the NLC has faulted the remark, insisting it won’t back down or settle for the N62,000 offer by the committee on the new minimum wage.

5. A five storey building under construction at Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) on Wednesday collapsed in Onitsha, Anambra State. The collapse occurred around 7:15 a.m, with the structure caving in from the top floor down to rubble. While confirming that there were no immediate fatalities, sources within the school raised concerns about the fate of those trapped beneath the debris.

6. Tiv communities in Nasarawa State have raised the alarm over the alleged forceful acquisition of 10,000 hectares of their ancestral land by the state government. They described the development as violations of their fundamental rights and threats to their security and socioeconomic well-being.

READ ALSO: Trending News: Top 10 Stories this Morning

7. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Lamuwa, has been suspended by the Office of the Head of Service over a sexual harassment allegation. The Head of Service, Folashade Yemi-Esan, said the permanent secretary would be on suspension pending the outcome of a probe into the allegation against him.

8. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says two of its towers, T193 and T194, along the Damaturu-Maiduguri 330 Kilo Volt (KV Single Circuit) transmission line have again been destroyed by vandals. TCN’S General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday. According to her, the incident happened at about 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday night, when the 150 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) power transformer at Molai Substation tripped.

9. Only 5.3 million Nigerians working in the formal sector will benefit from the new minimum wage, available data have shown. In other words, of Nigeria’s total population of 229 million people, 76 million (33.2 per cent) are workers, but not all of them will directly benefit from the wage increase because of some factors, analysts say.

10. The Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba on Tuesday sentenced Inspector Ubi Ebri of the Nigeria Police Force to death on a murder charge. The court, presided over by Justice C. D. Diai, convicted and sentenced the inspector to death for killing a phone dealer, Mr. Onyeka Ibeh, in Asaba.

The post Trending News: Top 10 Stories this Morning appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The action followed EEDC’s announcement that it would disconnect the power supply to the Enugu State Government House and other state government institutions in the South East over an N180bn debt.

EEDC’s spokesman, Emeka Ezeh, said upon arriving at the EEDC headquarters, he and other staff members found the building sealed.

“We were informed by the security men on duty that in the early hours of today (Tuesday) at about 2am, a group of men came and locked up the gates, claiming that the state governor directed the action,” he said.

In addition to the headquarters, EEDC offices in Abakpa, Awkunanaw and Ogui areas were also sealed by the agency. Ezeh described the development as “strange”, noting that EEDC had not received any notice or communication from ECTDA regarding the action.

READ ALSO : China’s Housing Model Offers Lessons for Nigeria’s Affordable Housing Crisis

Ezeh said the sealing their offices might be connected to EEDC’s notice to begin disconnecting indebted customers starting Tuesday.

The post Enugu Seals DisCo’s Offices After Govt House Disconnection Notice over N1bn Debt appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Managing Director of NDIC, Bello Hassan, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja. This move follows the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision on Monday to revoke the license of Heritage Bank Plc, aiming to ensure stability in the banking sector. The revocation raised concerns among customers, stakeholders, and the general public.

The CBN’s decision to revoke the license was executed under Section 12 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, with the goal of maintaining a sound financial system in Nigeria.

Hassan revealed that, based on a preliminary assessment, the bank holds about N650 billion in depositor funds. He assured customers that recovering the N700 billion in outstanding loans would cover the depositor funds adequately.

“From our preliminary assessment, we have found out that Heritage Bank has N650 billion in deposits and loans amounting to about N700 billion. If we recover this amount, no depositor will lose their deposit,” Hassan stated. “We assure depositors that there is no need to panic and that they will get their money back.”

READ ALSO: NDIC MD Guarantees Heritage Bank Customers Repayment within Seven Days

The NDIC has been appointed as the liquidator of Heritage Bank. Customers with insured deposits will be paid up to the insured limit of N5 million. Concerns had arisen that customers with amounts exceeding the insured limit might be at risk, but Hassan reassured depositors of their safety.

“There is no need for panic. There are 2.3 million depositors of Heritage Bank, and about 99.9 percent of that figure have less than N5 million as deposits,” he said. “Only about 4,000 depositors have deposits of N5 million and above.”

READ ALSO: CBN Explains Reasons Behind Revocation of Heritage Bank’s License

Hassan’s statements aim to calm fears and ensure depositors of Heritage Bank that their funds are secure, with the NDIC committed to recovering the owed loans and safeguarding depositor interests.

The post NDIC Pursues Debtors Owing Heritage Bank N700bn appeared first on Housing TV Africa.