₦68.7 billion has been granted by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for important electrical projects in Nigerian teaching hospitals and universities. This was revealed by Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu following the FEC meeting held at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, which was presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
The initiatives, he claimed, demonstrate the government’s determination to provide a consistent supply of electricity in critical areas like healthcare and education. Under the Energising Education Programme, which is overseen by the Rural Electrification Agency, the university project entails engineering, procurement, and construction.
Mr Adelabu said, “This initiative aims to ease the energy cost burden on universities and hospitals by providing reliable, good-quality electricity,” He called the state of electricity at many institutions “disturbing” and said it threatened the ability to provide services effectively.
“The lack of stable power supply has created crisis situations in some schools and hospitals, with institutions unable to afford local electricity,” the power minister stated. He stated that unstable power has resulted in blackouts and sporadic industrial activities.
According to Mr. Adelabu, the World Bank has previously helped certain organizations build comparable renewable energy initiatives.
The University of Abuja (12MW solar) and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (8MW) are examples of completed projects. Other solar-powered institutions include the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and the Nigerian Defence Academy (2.6MW). Eight more universities and teaching hospitals across the country will benefit from electrification thanks to the recently authorized money.
These are Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, and the University of Lagos. The University of Calabar, the University of Ibadan with its University College Hospital, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka are also mentioned.
Among the new benefactors is Wukari’s Federal University. According to Mr. Adelabu, these new projects should be finished in seven to nine months.
