Federal Government Approves ₦68.7bn for Power Projects in Universities and Teaching Hospitals
The Federal Government has sanctioned the sum of ₦68.7 billion to fund critical power infrastructure upgrades in select universities and teaching hospitals across the country.
Announcing the approval on Thursday, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said the initiative aims to enhance both the education and healthcare sectors by addressing longstanding electricity challenges. The announcement followed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Adelabu explained that the funding covers engineering, procurement, and construction works under Phase Two of the Energising Education Programme, spearheaded by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). The goal, he said, is to ensure consistent and renewable electricity supply to federal institutions plagued by unreliable power.
“This intervention is critical in reducing power-related costs in universities and hospitals while ensuring a dependable and quality energy supply,” Adelabu noted.
He described the current power situation in many tertiary institutions as troubling, pointing to frequent blackouts and electricity-related industrial actions as barriers to effective service delivery.
Previous phases of the initiative have already delivered results at institutions such as the University of Abuja, Usmanu Danfodiyo University (Sokoto), Nigerian Defence Academy (Kaduna), University of Niger (12MW solar facility), and Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
The second phase will expand infrastructure to eight more institutions, including the University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University (Zaria), Obafemi Awolowo University (Ile-Ife), University of Nigeria (Nsukka), University of Calabar, University of Ibadan (including its University College Hospital), and Federal University, Wukari.
Adelabu noted that the projects are slated for completion within seven to nine months.
“This is a major stride towards achieving uninterrupted electricity in our higher institutions and medical centers. It has the potential to transform the energy outlook of these key national institutions,” he said.
Additionally, the Council approved a complementary initiative focused on Agricultural Centres of Excellence in rural areas. This project aims to deploy solar-powered systems to support agro-processing and enhance productivity among small-scale farming enterprises.
“This isn’t just about powering homes,” Adelabu emphasized. “It’s about energizing rural economies, improving food production, and enabling sustainable livelihoods through clean energy solutions.”
