Presidency justifies project as global practice
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the proposed N10 billion solar power project for the Presidential Villa, describing it as an open admission of the failure of the electricity sector.
But the Presidency defended approval of the project by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), amid outcry over the cost and timing of the initiative. National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated, yesterday, that the decision to transition the Villa’s power supply to solar energy highlighted the gross incompetence of the Minister of Power and the unaffordable nature of electricity supplied by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Distribution Companies (DisCos).
The group asserted that citing the cost of the shift to solar energy proved the Federal Government was aware that electricity tariffs imposed on citizens by the DisCos were unsustainable and fraudulent.
It pointed to the Presidency’s defence of the project, drawing comparisons to solar power usage at the White House in Washington, D.C. as evidence of misplaced priorities.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, shared a video of solar panels at the White House on X (formerly Twitter), arguing that Nigeria was following global best practices in renewable energy.
“The White House in Washington, D.C. uses solar power,” Onanuga stated on X, implying that the adoption of renewable energy for high-level government facilities is not unprecedented and reflects a commitment to sustainability.
However, HURIWA argued that in a country where millions of citizens lack access to stable electricity, spending N10 billion on powering a single location was selfish, adding: “This project is not just a failure of leadership but an admission that the national grid is unreliable, and the narrative that over 150 million Nigerians are now enjoying regular electricity is a blatant lie.”
The group further criticised the electricity pricing model, particularly the controversial Band classifications, as a scam comparable to Hushpuppi’s advance fee fraud.
The proposed solar system, it was gathered, would provide stable electricity for the President’s residence, administrative offices, and other essential buildings within the State House complex, enhancing energy efficiency and long-term cost savings.
Notwithstanding, some Nigerians have applauded the environmental benefits of the initiative, while others expressed concerns about the financial implications, especially when such is weighed at a time when many citizens are grappling with economic challenges.
