Federal Government Flags Off N12bn Renewed Hope Solar Project

The federal government has launched a seven-megawatt solar project at the hospital within 48 hours after the power dispute between Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).

During the flag-off in Kano, Abubakar Bichi, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations and member representing Bichi Federal constituency, said over N12 billion is committed to the project, which is expected to make the hospital independent of the national grid.

Bichi, the project facilitator, said the project is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s move to solarise all tertiary institutions and teaching hospitals nationwide, starting with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.

Hon. Bichi thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving and supporting the project.

He said that the project demonstrated President Tinubu’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said that the federal government has already allocated N300 billion in the 2025 budget, and very soon, all our tertiary institutions and teaching hospitals, including those owned by some states, will have 24/7 solar power.

In 2025, we attracted over N26bn in projects to this hospital, which has never been done before. We are also working on another 5-6 megawatts at BUK, 4 megawatts at ADUSTECH Wudil, and 3 megawatts at Murtala and Nasarawa hospitals.

“We must commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Earlier, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, said the project is just the beginning of transforming the Renewed Hope Agenda vision into action.

For his part, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the agency where the project is domiciled, promised that the project would be delivered before the end of December.

He said the commission is committed to providing clean, reliable, and affordable energy in all Nigerian tertiary institutions and teaching hospitals, saying energy bills from DisCos are not sustainable.

“This project is the first of its kind in the country, and we expect about 10,000. It will reach all 36 states and the FCT. By the time we finish, all the facilities will be 100% solarised,” the DG explained.

AKTH Chief Medical Director Professor Abdulrahman Sheshe said that when completed, the hospital will save more than 30 per cent of its expenses.

“We spend about N150 million monthly on electricity bills and another N30 million to buy diesel that powers our generators. So, this project could not have come at a better time, especially in the face of our recent power dispute.

Before the flag-off, Hon. Bichi inspected the ongoing construction of the five-storey Accident and Emergency and Trauma Centre Unit, which the Federal Government is building, a project he also facilitated.