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“Aso Villa To Go Off National Grid By March” – Permanent Secretary.
The Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja is set to completely disconnect from the national power grid by March 2026, as the Federal Government finalizes its solar mini-grid project at the seat of power.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Naija News, the State House Permanent Secretary, Temitope Fashedemi, announced the plan on Wednesday during the 2026 budget defence session before the Senate Committee on Special Duties.
Fashedemi explained that the solar infrastructure was installed by late 2025 and has been undergoing testing and technical evaluations since then. He expressed confidence that the Villa would fully transition to solar energy within the first quarter of 2026, a move expected to significantly reduce government electricity costs.
To demonstrate the system’s viability, he highlighted the State House Medical Centre, which has operated primarily on solar power since May 2025, relying minimally on diesel generators and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
The solarisation project has been costly. The Federal Government allocated ₦10 billion in the 2025 budget, while the 2026 Appropriation Bill proposes an additional ₦7 billion to complete the initiative. Critics have questioned investing heavily in the Villa’s solar power while millions of Nigerians continue to face unreliable electricity, suggesting it indicates a lack of confidence in the national grid.
However, government officials defended the project. The Energy Commission of Nigeria’s Director-General, Mustapha Abdullahi, described the Villa’s energy expenses as unsustainable, citing an estimated annual electricity bill of ₦47 billion. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga also supported the move, noting that adopting solar power aligns with global best practices, similar to the White House.
Villa Electricity Debt Reduced After Audit
Prior to the project, Aso Rock was among AEDC’s top government debtors, with an outstanding bill of ₦923.87 million in February 2024. After reconciliation, the amount was revised to ₦342.35 million, which President Bola Tinubu ordered paid.
Fashedemi revealed that the audit uncovered instances of overbilling, including payments for power never supplied. The Villa is in talks with AEDC to resolve these “legacy liabilities.” He also noted that aging generators may no longer be necessary, with only a few retained for emergency use.
Meanwhile, Senator Kaka Lawan (Borno Central), Chairman of the Senate Committee, questioned the ₦127 million budgeted for State House sport utility vehicles, calling it insufficient to purchase even one bulletproof vehicle. He urged the Budget Office to revise the allocation but commended the State House for promptly defending its budget, calling it a model for other agencies.
What is the dollar to naira exchange rate in the black market (also known as the parallel market or Aboki FX)?....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has dismissed claims that opposition parties’ challenges are caused by the ruling party, insisting that their crises are self-inflicted.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has argued that the North is not disadvantaged in Nigeria’s power-sharing arrangement under democratic rule.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the statement during an interview on Arise Television, where he spoke on zoning, fairness, and political balance in the country.
He noted that since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999, the South has held the presidency for about 18 years, while the North has governed for roughly 10 years.
According to him, this should be taken into account when discussing which region has benefited more from the country’s power rotation system. He also maintained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains the only major political party with zoning clearly embedded in its constitution.
“The South has governed for 18 years and the North for 10. So who is really in deficit if we are being fair? Even more broadly, the only party with zoning formally entrenched is the PDP,” he said.
Atiku also recalled the constitutional conference held during the military era under General Sani Abacha, where he led a group that opposed the inclusion of rotational presidency in the constitution.
He said the proposal, championed by the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, was rejected at the time because his group had majority support among delegates.
According to him, Ekwueme later acknowledged that the decision may not have been ideal during his funeral years later. Atiku added that he now believes a rotational system, if adopted earlier, could have ensured a more balanced distribution of power across Nigeria’s regions.
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