Kemi Asekun-Shittu defends the planned solar mini-grid installation at the Presidential Villa, arguing that taking the facility off the national grid will reduce pressure on electricity supply.

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson, Kemi Asekun-Shittu, has defended the Federal Government’s decision to spend ₦10bn on a solar mini-grid project at the Presidential Villa, insisting that the move will help make more electricity available to Nigerians.

Asekun-Shittu said President Bola Tinubu’s decision to move the Presidential Villa towards solar energy was aimed at reducing the facility’s dependence on the national grid and easing pressure on the country’s already overstretched electricity infrastructure.

She made the remarks during an interview on Naija Info FM, Lagos, on Friday, amid public concerns over the country’s persistent power shortages and the rising cost of electricity.

According to her, Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure is struggling to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population, making alternative energy sources increasingly necessary.

Asekun-Shittu argued that the national grid, which was originally designed to serve a much smaller population, is now expected to provide electricity for nearly 250 million people.

“You see, Mr President said, ‘I will give you power and I will increase the national grid.’ And now the national grid supplies a country that used to have about 70 million people but now has to supply a country going to about 250 million people,” she said.

She explained that moving the Presidential Villa away from heavy dependence on the national grid was a practical step towards reducing electricity consumption by government facilities.

According to her, the President had recognised the financial burden of relying on conventional electricity supply and decided to explore solar energy as an alternative.

“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,’” she stated.

The APC spokesperson further argued that Nigeria’s abundant sunshine makes solar energy a viable option, adding that the decision should be welcomed because it could leave more electricity for ordinary citizens.

“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.

₦10bn allocated for Presidential Villa solar project

Her comments come against the backdrop of reports that the State House earmarked ₦10bn in the 2025 approved budget for the installation of a solar mini-grid at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The allocation followed an increase in the State House Headquarters' overall budget from ₦47.11bn in the initial 2025 proposal to ₦57.11bn in the approved budget.

The increase was entirely reflected in capital expenditure, which rose from ₦33.55bn to ₦43.55bn.

A breakdown of the capital projects listed in the approved budget identified the additional ₦10bn for a project described as “Solarisation of the Villa with Solar Mini Grid.”

The proposed project has attracted attention amid growing frustration over unreliable electricity supply, frequent power outages and the financial burden of alternative power sources on households and businesses.

For many Nigerians, the expectation has been that the Tinubu administration would prioritise improvements to the national grid and ensure a more stable electricity supply across the country.

However, Asekun-Shittu maintained that the Presidential Villa's transition to solar energy should not be viewed simply as a government facility abandoning the national grid.

Rather, she presented it as an attempt to reduce demand on the existing electricity infrastructure while taking advantage of Nigeria’s renewable energy potential.

Her defence comes at a time when millions of Nigerians continue to grapple with inadequate electricity supply, leaving questions about the pace of broader power-sector improvements firmly in the national conversation.