The spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, has defended the Federal Government’s decision to power the Presidential Villa with solar energy, arguing that the move will reduce pressure on the national grid and make more electricity available to Nigerians.
Asekun-Shittu said President Bola Tinubu’s decision to move the Villa away from dependence on the national grid was aimed at reducing the facility’s electricity consumption from the public supply system.
She made the remarks during an interview on Naija Info FM in Lagos on Friday, amid criticism over the project’s cost and persistent electricity shortages across the country.
According to her, Nigeria’s growing population has increased pressure on the national grid, making it more difficult for the existing electricity infrastructure to meet the country’s demands.
She explained that the grid, which previously served a population of about 70 million, now has to cater to a country with an estimated population of nearly 250 million.
Asekun-Shittu said the President’s decision to adopt solar energy was therefore a practical step towards reducing the Villa’s dependence on public electricity.
She said, “And Mr President said, okay, you know what? We are paying so much for power here. Let me come out of here. Let’s do solar here.”
Defending the decision further, she argued that Nigeria’s abundant sunshine made solar energy a viable alternative for powering government facilities.
“Since we have free sun in Nigeria, I think that he should be for that because that leaves more power for the people,” she added.
The comments come amid public debate over the cost of the Presidential Villa’s solar project, particularly against the backdrop of persistent electricity challenges affecting households and businesses.
The State House allocated ₦10bn in the 2025 approved budget for the project, officially described as the “Solarisation of the Villa with Solar Mini Grid.”
The allocation contributed to an increase in the State House Headquarters’ budget from ₦47.11bn in the initial proposal to ₦57.11bn in the approved version.
In February 2026, the State House Permanent Secretary, Temitope Fashedemi, disclosed that the solar installation had been completed towards the end of 2025 and was undergoing technical evaluation ahead of the Villa’s full transition from the national grid.
The Federal Government also made a further ₦7bn provision for the project in the 2026 budget proposal.
Asekun-Shittu maintained that moving the Presidential Villa to solar energy would help ease pressure on the national grid, leaving more electricity available for public consumption.
About the Author
