The administration of President Bola Tinubu has allocated an additional N7 billion for the Presidential Villa’s solarisation in 2026.
The sum was recorded under State House expenses in information released by the Federation’s Budget Office.
The N7 billion was described under “provision of solarisation of Villa with solar mini grid”.
Recall that the Federal Government allocated in July of 2025 had N10 billion for the Aso Rock Villa’s solarisation in 2025.
The construction of a solar grid for Aso Villa, the residence of the President and other senior Presidency officials, coincides with the ongoing power outages that many Nigerians endure.
The Tinubu administration defended their choice in April 2025 in response to public outcry over the original N10 billion budget for the solarisation of the Aso Villa.
The N10 billion solar energy project for the State House in Aso Rock was approved, and the Presidency defended this decision by characterising it as a long-term, strategic investment in energy efficiency and sustainability.
Given Nigeria’s economic difficulties and growing worries about government spending, the argument was made in the face of growing public criticism regarding the initiative’s timing and expense.
Meanwhile, the use of solar power in the Presidential Villa, according to several Nigerians, suggested that the Tinubu administration was no longer able to achieve its pledge to supply steady electricity.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga stated in a statement posted on his verified X handle that the project is in line with international norms for presidential homes, such as the White House in Washington, D.C., which has incorporated solar energy into its power supply plan.
“The White House in Washington D.C. uses solar power,” Onanuga stated. “We are not reinventing the wheel. We are following a tested and globally accepted model for powering important national institutions sustainably.”
The incident underscored the persistent vulnerability of Nigeria’s power infrastructure, where a single grid disturbance can rapidly cascade into nationwide outages.
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