The Federal Government, through the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), has renewed its resolve to confront ongoing electricity-supply challenges in public hospitals and university campuses by ramping up investment in renewable energy.
In a statement marking his two-year tenure, ECN Director-General Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi said the Renewed Hope Solarisation Project has already begun deploying 2-megawatt solar hybrid systems in public institutions including the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano, General Hospital Bangi in Niger State, the Enugu Research Centre, and the University of Abuja. The Commission further noted that communities across Benue, Kebbi, Kaduna, Ekiti and Osun States have benefitted, and more institutions have been listed for the second phase.
He emphasised that ECN has also signed several memoranda of understanding for solar mini-grid deployment and is driving the newly gazetted National Energy Policy and National Energy Master Plan to improve coordination and catalyse investment in renewables. (Punch Newspaper)
According to an ECN press release, the AKTH solar initiative is a 7 MW project, part of the broader push to ensure uninterrupted power supply in one of Nigeria’s major teaching hospitals, thereby reducing reliance on diesel generators and stabilising operations. (energy.gov.ng)
Additionally, other sources indicate that around 37 federal universities and as many tertiary hospitals are targeted for solar hybrid systems under the initiative, affirming the scale of the effort. (esi-africa.com)
Why it matters:
Reliable power in hospitals and universities is critical for service delivery, research, and community welfare.
Moving from diesel-based backup systems and unstable grid supply to solar-hybrid systems reduces cost, pollution, and operational risk.
This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader goal of deepening renewables and reducing dependency on fossil generation.
Deployment in public institutions signals a commitment to inclusive electrification and infrastructure modernisation.
What to watch:
Implementation progress: Are the solar hybrids fully installed and operational at all listed beneficiary institutions?
Financing and maintenance: Ensuring the systems are funded, maintained and integrated into existing infrastructure.
Impact: Improved power reliability, lower fuel/diesel bills, better service delivery in hospitals and universities.
Expansion: Whether the programme scales beyond initial institutions and integrates storage solutions or mini-grids.
Policy & regulation: How the National Energy Policy and Master Plan are being leveraged to support this and other clean-energy efforts.
