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Tinubu Allocate N7 billion For Aso Rock Solar Power Grid
The administration of President Bola Tinubu has allocated an additional ₦7 billion in the 2026 budget for the solarisation of the Presidential Villa, according to details released by the Budget Office of the Federation.
The allocation, listed under State House expenditures, is designated as “provision of solarisation of Villa with solar mini grid.” This comes a year after the Federal Government earmarked ₦10 billion in the 2025 budget for the same project at Aso Rock.
The plan to deploy a solar power system at the Presidential Villa home to the President and senior government officials has drawn public attention, particularly against the backdrop of persistent electricity challenges faced by many Nigerians.
Following widespread criticism of the initial ₦10 billion allocation in 2025, the Tinubu administration defended the project, describing it as a strategic long-term investment in sustainability, energy efficiency, and cost reduction. The Presidency argued that the initiative aligns with global best practices for powering critical government infrastructure.
The defence came amid growing concerns over government spending priorities and Nigeria’s economic pressures. Critics accused the administration of contradicting its pledge to deliver stable electricity nationwide, suggesting that the move to solar power at Aso Rock reflected a lack of confidence in the national grid.
Responding to the criticism, Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the project reflects international standards for presidential residences. In a statement posted on his verified X account, he noted that the White House in Washington, D.C., also incorporates solar energy into its power supply. According to him, the Villa’s solarisation follows a proven and globally accepted model for sustainable energy use in key national institutions.
The budgetary decision has also coincided with renewed instability in Nigeria’s electricity sector. In April 2025, the national grid slipped into emergency mode after a major system collapse severely reduced power generation and disrupted supply across the country.
Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that total electricity generation fell sharply within one hour, dropping from 2,052.37 megawatts at 2:00 p.m. to just 139.92MW by 3:00 p.m., indicating a significant grid disturbance.
The collapse resulted in widespread outages, with only three of the country’s 11 electricity distribution companies able to receive power at the time. Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company received 80MW, while Abuja and Benin DisCos were allocated 20MW each. All other distribution companies recorded zero allocation.
NISO confirmed that Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Yola DisCos were unable to take any load from the grid during the incident. Independent grid monitoring platforms corroborated the data, showing that power supply remained severely constrained hours after the collapse.
The episode once again highlighted the fragility of Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure, where a single system failure can quickly trigger nationwide blackouts. At the peak of the disruption, generation fell below 200MW—far short of what is required to support households, businesses, and essential services.
Similar incidents were recorded earlier. On September 10, 2025, the national grid collapsed again, plunging much of the country into darkness. Distribution figures at the time showed minimal allocations, with most DisCos receiving no power.
In March 2025, another major grid collapse left large parts of the country, including Lagos, without electricity. This occurred just days after the Federal Government announced what it described as a historic increase in generation capacity to 6,000MW. Despite the milestone, the grid failure caused output to crash below 1,000MW within hours, underscoring ongoing structural weaknesses in the power sector.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved a new round of appointments and promotions with immediate effect, as part of efforts to strengthen governance and enhance institutional performance in the state.
The development was announced in a statement released on Monday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
According to the statement, Abubakar Ibrahim Matawalle has been appointed as the Acting Director-General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board. Matawalle, a retired permanent secretary, previously served in a similar role and also held office as the board’s executive secretary. He was described as a seasoned administrator who rose through the civil service ranks from Assistant Secretary to Permanent Secretary before retiring in 2014, after eight years in the position. The statement noted his strong track record in the effective management of Hajj operations.
Governor Yusuf also approved the promotion of Yusuf Mukhtar to the rank of Permanent Secretary.
In another appointment, Barrister Rahama Malam Alhaji was named Provost of the Kano State Anti-Corruption Institute. She was praised as an accomplished legal practitioner with over seven years’ experience spanning litigation, corporate law, electricity law, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution. The statement highlighted her professional background across both public and private sectors, including her time at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company and her role as Head of the School of Law at Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria. She holds a Master of Laws degree in International Law and was credited with pioneering initiatives such as the establishment of a Law Clinic and a Student Bar Association.
The governor further approved the promotion of veteran Kannywood actress Aina’u Ade from Special Assistant to Senior Special Assistant on Kannywood Affairs, citing her impressive performance and dedication in her previous assignment.
The statement said the latest appointments and promotions reflect the administration’s resolve to reinforce governance structures and ensure the efficient management of public institutions. Governor Yusuf urged the beneficiaries to justify the confidence reposed in them through diligence, transparency and unwavering commitment to the Kano First Agenda.
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has issued a public alert over a fraudulent LinkedIn account impersonating its Director-General, Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, urging Nigerians to disregard and report any communication linked to the fake profile.
In a statement released on Saturday by the Institute’s Media Consultant, Mr Sam Eferaro, NIMR disclosed that the impostor account has been sending misleading messages to unsuspecting individuals, falsely offering procurement opportunities, contracts and other business-related engagements.
According to the statement, the attention of the Institute was drawn to the existence of the fake LinkedIn profile posing as the Director-General, adding that all messages emanating from the account are entirely fraudulent.
NIMR cautioned members of the public against engaging with any messages purportedly sent by Professor Obafunwa through LinkedIn or other unofficial platforms, particularly those soliciting business dealings or financial commitments.
The Institute further emphasised that all legitimate interactions with vendors, contractors, partners and the public are conducted strictly through recognised and official institutional channels, in line with established public service procedures.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has dismissed calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria demanding the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made concerning genocide.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN described the demand as unfounded and unjustifiable, stressing that Prof. Amupitan, like every Nigerian, is constitutionally entitled to express opinions on matters of national interest, regardless of his public office.
The Fellowship maintained that the remarks attributed to the INEC chairman had no link to his official duties, noting that they were unrelated to elections or electoral processes, which fall within the scope of his professional responsibilities.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a citizen of Nigeria, has the right to speak on issues he perceives as affecting the nation, irrespective of his appointment or position,” the statement said.
PFN further condemned suggestions that the INEC chairman should be removed on the basis of personal views expressed outside his official mandate, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent where public officials are penalised for holding or expressing independent opinions.
The organisation also cautioned against interpreting national discourse through religious perspectives, arguing that such an approach risks deepening societal divisions and threatening peaceful coexistence.
“We must guard against profiling individuals or judging them based on religious considerations. Prof. Amupitan has the right to express his views, and this should not come at the expense of his office,” the statement added.
The Fellowship urged stakeholders to exercise restraint and mutual respect in addressing sensitive national issues, emphasising that unity, fairness, and peaceful engagement must remain central to public discourse.
PFN reaffirmed its commitment to justice and national cohesion, calling on Nigerians to uphold democratic values in responding to differing opinions on matters affecting the country.
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