Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has defended the Federal Government’s controversial N10 billion solar power project for the Presidential Villa, comparing it to the energy strategy of the White House in Washington, D.C.
Amid growing public concern over the project’s timing and cost—especially during Nigeria’s current economic strain—Onanuga took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle to justify the move.
“The White House in Washington D.C. uses solar power,” Onanuga stated. “Our decision is aligned with global best practices in sustainable energy, especially for critical government infrastructure.”
His remarks come on the heels of the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) approval of a plan to transition the Presidential Villa completely off the national electricity grid. The initiative, estimated at N10 billion, includes the installation of a comprehensive solar energy system to power the President’s residence, administrative offices, and other essential facilities within the Aso Rock complex.
Government sources say the project was prompted by what they described as “unsustainable power costs” from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
However, critics remain skeptical. Many have questioned the scale and timing of the investment, arguing that such a significant outlay should be reconsidered in light of the country’s ongoing economic challenges.
