The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of ₦68.7 billion for critical electricity projects in selected universities, teaching hospitals, and rural agricultural centres across Nigeria.
NAN reports that the decision, which was reached during Thursday’s FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja, is part of a broader effort by the federal government to improve access to stable electricity in key sectors of the economy.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, described the approval as a major step towards resolving the power crisis affecting educational and healthcare institutions in the country.
He explained that the funds would be directed toward engineering, procurement, and construction works under the Energising Education Programme (EEP), a project supervised by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
“This initiative aims to ease the energy cost burden on universities and hospitals by providing reliable, good-quality electricity,” Adelabu said. He noted that the current electricity situation in many public institutions is “disturbing” and has, in some cases, led to blackouts and industrial actions due to unreliable power supply.
Under the new phase of the project, eight federal universities and their teaching hospitals are set to benefit. These include the University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Ibadan and its University College Hospital, University of Calabar, and the Federal University, Wukari.
The projects are expected to be completed within seven to nine months.
Adelabu cited previous successful implementations of the Energising Education Programme in institutions such as the University of Abuja, University of Niger (which hosts a 12MW solar power plant), Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto (8MW), the Nigerian Defence Academy (2.6MW), and the Federal University of Agriculture in Makurdi, all of which are already benefiting from improved electricity through renewable sources.
In addition to boosting power supply in universities and hospitals, the FEC also approved a separate electrification project targeting Agricultural Centres of Excellence in rural areas.
These centres will be equipped with solar-powered systems that support not just household electrification but also small-scale agro-processing businesses.
“This goes beyond lighting homes; it supports productive use of solar-powered equipment in rural areas,” Adelabu said. He emphasized that the initiative is designed to empower rural communities by enabling them to engage in income-generating activities through access to modern energy solutions.
According to the minister, the project is aligned with the government’s broader goals of economic revitalisation, job creation, and sustainable development. It also reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to transitioning to cleaner energy sources and bridging the energy access gap across rural and urban communities.
“This is another step to ensure our universities enjoy uninterrupted electricity. Our institutions will never be the same again,” Adelabu added.
With the new funding, the federal government aims to transform the electricity landscape in Nigeria’s education, healthcare, and agricultural sectors, ensuring that critical public institutions no longer suffer from the debilitating effects of power shortages.
NAN
