TWO Ministries Bow Out of National Power Grid, Settle For Solar

Babatunde Fashola – Min. of works and housing

The ministries of Works, Housing and Environment have quitted receiving power supply from the national electricity grid.

Babatunde Fashola, minister of Works and Housing made it known to the public that henceforward the ministries would get their power supply from a 1.5 megawatts solar micro-grid system, which was inaugurated at Mabushi, Abuja headquarters of his ministry on Tuesday.

The minister said the solar power project was approved by the Federal Executive Council on March 20, 2019 at the time when the Federal Ministry of Power was part of the works and housing ministry.

In his statement, “I express our ministry’s appreciation to members of the Federal Executive Council who voted to entrust our ministry with this project.

“What we have delivered, based on the mandate of the Federal Executive Council, is a 1.52MW solar system that will provide uninterrupted power supply to five blocks housing the Ministry of Works and Housing and Ministry of Environment and Lands.”

He said the project employed 382 artisans and 176 skilled workers throughout its duration, as this was in fulfillment of the government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of creating jobs.

“It would see to the reduction of average diesel consumption from 764,248 litres per annum to 166,825 liters per annum and cost saving of N270.95m over 20 years.

“It will contribute towards the reduction of government operational expenses and reduction of recurrent expenditure.”

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The President, Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said the solar grid project was in line with the Federal Government’s pursuit.

He said, “For many years and indeed decades, our pursuit of electrical energy solutions has followed a single track of on-grid power until recently, when off-grid power became a focal policy pursuit of this administration.

“The impact of that policy shift is that access to small scale and off-grid electricity is increasingly becoming available to Nigerians in marketplaces, universities, and business premises.”