In a recent interview on News Central TV, renowned energy expert Professor Izielen Agbon expressed criticism over the federal government’s decision to transition Aso Rock to solar power.
While acknowledging the technical soundness of the move, Agbon warned that the decision sends a troubling political message in a country where nearly 40 per cent of citizens still lack access to electricity. He argued that the shift reflects a “large vote of no confidence” in the government’s power policies and raises serious concerns about the affordability and structure of Nigeria’s electricity pricing system—particularly for key institutions like specialist hospitals also classified under high-tariff Band A.
The words of Agbon at some point during the interview read, “putting Aso Rock on solar power is something that should have been done decades ago. It is the best energy alternative. However, politically, the decision to put Aso Rock on solar power in the midst of the lack of electricity for 40 per cent of Nigerians who have no access to electricity is a large vote of no confidence in the government policy in respect to power and energy.”
He further stated that, “while it is technically correct to do that, the political image and the signal itself to Nigeria are not positive at all. The reason why I said that is because if Aso Rock has got a financial problem with respect to paying its electricity bill because it is in Band A, it means the policy for the entire pricing of electricity in Nigeria is incorrect. It means also that just like Aso Rock is having problems, all our specialist hospitals in Nigeria that are on band A have got the same economic problems as Aso Rock.”
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