Third Anniversary: Tinubu’s N220b Solar Drive Sparks Cheers as ECN Hails Renewable Energy Revolution

Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja

The Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as “a reformer per excellence” for spearheading what he described as a bold renewable energy revolution across Nigeria.

Celebrating the President’s third year in office, the ECN boss applauded the Tinubu administration for launching massive solarisation projects in federal universities, teaching hospitals and public institutions nationwide under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Dr Mustapha said the administration’s N220 billion National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative is already transforming the country’s energy sector through mini-grid solar projects aimed at reducing dependence on diesel and easing pressure on the national grid.

“No federal institution of higher learning should remain energy-insecure,” he declared.

According to him, the Energy Commission of Nigeria is currently driving projects expected to generate over 100 megawatts of alternative energy across 72 primary healthcare centres and tertiary institutions nationwide.

He further disclosed that the commission sealed a landmark partnership with LONGi, one of China’s leading solar firms, to establish a solar panel production factory in Nigeria.

The ECN DG said the partnership would boost local manufacturing, create jobs and position Nigeria as a major renewable energy hub in Africa.

“This drive to energise institutions will continue state by state and institution by institution until the vision is fully realised,” he said.

Dr Mustapha explained that the projects include solar photovoltaic systems backed by battery storage technology to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply beyond daylight hours.

He added that the systems would operate through decentralised clusters linked to a central SCADA control centre for real-time monitoring and efficient energy management, while solar-powered streetlights would also be installed to improve security within campuses and hospitals.

Among the first beneficiaries are the University of Abuja, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and the Enugu Research Centre.

The ECN boss revealed that installation of a 2MW solar power system has commenced at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, while a 4MW project is ongoing at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
He also referenced the recent groundbreaking ceremony for a 1MW solar project at Bayero University Kano.

Describing the projects as strategic national interventions, Dr Mustapha said they represent critical building blocks in the Federal Government’s broader energy transition agenda covering all 36 states and the FCT.