Peter Obi Condemns N10 Billion Aso Rock Solar Project as National Grid Faces Imminent Outages
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticized plans to install solar power at Nigeria's Presidential Villa for N10 billion, arguing the investment signals government abandonment of the national electricity grid as scheduled maintenance threatens widespread power outages.
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Nigeria's electricity crisis has intensified as former presidential candidate Peter Obi condemned the federal government's N10 billion plan to power Aso Rock Presidential Villa with solar energy, while scheduled maintenance on critical gas infrastructure threatens to trigger nationwide power outages.
Obi warned that disconnecting the Presidential Villa from the national grid to rely exclusively on solar power demonstrates a troubling neglect of Nigeria's broader electricity infrastructure. According to a statement released on his X account and reported by Nairametrics, the Labour Party leader questioned the priorities of President Bola Tinubu's administration at a time when millions of Nigerians endure daily blackouts.
"Mr Tinubu's statement had inspired hope among millions of Nigerians who desired stable power supply," Obi stated, according to Peoples Gazette Nigeria. The criticism comes as the government faces mounting pressure to address the country's chronic electricity deficit, which has constrained economic growth and industrial development for decades.
Scheduled Maintenance Compounds Grid Instability
The controversy over the Aso Rock solar project coincides with warnings of imminent power supply disruptions across Nigeria. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) announced on Thursday that scheduled maintenance on a major gas facility operated by Seplat Energy Plc will curtail supply to several thermal power plants, according to Vanguard News.
The maintenance work will affect key generation facilities including Egbin, Azura, Sapele, and Transcorp power plants, temporarily reducing electricity generation capacity nationwide. Seplat Energy Plc, described as a joint venture partner and key gas supplier to the power sector, plays a critical role in maintaining fuel supply to thermal facilities that account for a significant portion of Nigeria's electricity generation.
Vanguard News reported that "electricity generation across the country is expected to dip temporarily" during the maintenance period, though the NNPC Ltd characterized the work as routine and necessary for long-term infrastructure reliability. The timing of the scheduled outages has raised concerns among electricity consumers already struggling with inadequate power supply.
Presidential Villa Solar Plan Sparks Debate
The proposed solar installation at Aso Rock has become a flashpoint in Nigeria's ongoing electricity policy debate. Critics argue that investing N10 billion to ensure uninterrupted power for government officials while ordinary citizens face blackouts represents a misallocation of scarce resources that could strengthen the national grid infrastructure.
Obi's intervention reflects broader frustration with the government's approach to electricity reform. Since taking office, President Tinubu has pledged to address Nigeria's power crisis through a combination of grid improvements, renewable energy investments, and private sector participation. However, progress has been slow, and frequent collapses of the national grid continue to disrupt economic activity.
The Presidential Villa solar project would make Aso Rock energy-independent, shielding government operations from the grid instability that affects businesses, hospitals, schools, and households across Nigeria. Proponents of the plan argue that demonstrating renewable energy viability at the highest levels of government could catalyze broader adoption of solar technology.
Gas Supply Constraints Hamper Power Generation
Nigeria's electricity challenges stem partly from persistent gas supply constraints to thermal power plants, despite the country's status as Africa's largest natural gas producer. Infrastructure bottlenecks, pipeline vandalism, and maintenance requirements regularly disrupt fuel delivery to generation facilities, forcing plants to operate below capacity or shut down entirely.
The scheduled Seplat maintenance highlights the fragility of Nigeria's gas-to-power supply chain. While routine maintenance is essential for preventing catastrophic equipment failures, the resulting power generation dips underscore the grid's vulnerability to single points of failure and the absence of adequate reserve capacity.
Industry analysts have long advocated for diversification of Nigeria's power generation mix beyond gas-fired thermal plants, including expanded investment in hydroelectric, solar, and wind facilities. However, implementation of alternative energy projects has lagged due to financing constraints, regulatory uncertainties, and infrastructure deficits.
Political Implications of Energy Policy
The clash over the Aso Rock solar project carries significant political resonance as Nigeria approaches future electoral cycles. Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election, has positioned himself as a critic of government spending priorities and an advocate for policies that directly benefit ordinary Nigerians rather than political elites.
His criticism of the Presidential Villa solar plan taps into widespread public frustration with perceived government insensitivity to the daily struggles of citizens. Electricity supply remains one of the most visible failures of successive Nigerian administrations, affecting quality of life, business operations, and economic competitiveness.
The Tinubu administration has not yet issued a detailed response to Obi's criticisms, though government officials have previously defended renewable energy investments as part of Nigeria's climate commitments and long-term energy transition strategy. The administration faces the challenge of balancing immediate grid stabilization needs with longer-term renewable energy goals.
As scheduled maintenance proceeds on gas infrastructure and debate continues over the Aso Rock solar project, Nigeria's electricity crisis shows no signs of abating. The government's ability to deliver reliable power to all citizens, not just government facilities, will remain a critical test of its policy effectiveness and political credibility in the months ahead.