FG switches on 1.6MW solar plant at Lafia varsity, saving ₦30m a month
- A 1.6-megawatt solar hybrid mini-grid has been commissioned at the Federal University of Lafia in Nasarawa State.
- The plant is expected to cut the university's electricity bill by about ₦30 million every month.
- The project was built under the REA's Energising Education Programme, with the African Development Bank among the partners.
The Federal Government has commissioned a 1.6-megawatt solar hybrid mini-grid at the Federal University of Lafia in Nasarawa State, a project expected to save the institution about ₦30 million every month on electricity.
The plant was built under the Energising Education Programme (EEP) of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). It combines a solar park of about 1.6 megawatts peak with a power conditioning system and battery storage, so the school keeps power after dark and during peak demand.
Governor Abdullahi Sule, who spoke at the commissioning in Lafia, thanked President Bola Tinubu for the intervention and said it had eased the burden on the state. He pushed for more such projects across the country.
"My opinion is that we should build as many mini-grids as possible. That is the future of Nigeria's electrification," Sule said.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe restated the Federal Government's commitment to ensuring every Nigerian has access to electricity. He said the government wants other Nigerians to soon enjoy the kind of uninterrupted power that Lafia and other EEP institutions now have, and tied the project to the President's Renewed Hope Agenda.
What it means for students
The university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Isa Kida, said the campus has had uninterrupted power since the test run began. He said the project would serve more than 30,000 students and staff, improve digital services and strengthen practical training in renewable energy.
A 300-level student, Raimat Abdullahi, said the steady supply had allowed her to study for longer periods. The REA's managing director, Abba Aliyu, said her experience shows how reliable power can keep academic work from being disrupted.
"It is not just about electrifying a university; it is about connecting an entire generation of Nigerians to a world full of opportunities," Aliyu said.
Aliyu said the agency has financed 22 completed mini-grid projects in Nasarawa State, with another 37 to be developed soon. He thanked the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other partners for backing the EEP pilot.
Professor Kida also welcomed a training programme for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) attached to the project, and promised the university would protect the facilities.
What happens next
The REA says it plans to expand its mini-grid rollout in Nasarawa and beyond, with the 37 new projects still to come. For now, the Lafia plant is expected to keep the campus powered and cut a bill that had been weighing on the school.
