FG Ends Free Solar Power For Universities And Teaching Hospitals

(Joseph Tegbe. Photo by Voice of Nigeria)

The Federal Government says it will start charging universities and teaching hospitals for the electricity from renewable energy systems it installed for them.

The power minister, Joseph Tegbe, announced this on Wednesday at the unveiling of a new company meant to manage government renewable energy assets.

He said the government is good at building public infrastructure but poor at keeping it in good condition.

The new approach will help maintain renewable energy systems across the country.

The minister noted that some universities came to thank him after using free electricity for two years.

He told them the free period is over and they will now have to pay for the power they use.

The same applies to teaching hospitals.

Since 2017, the government has installed 82 megawatts of solar hybrid power systems across twenty-two federal universities and three teaching hospitals.

The government spent money to build these systems and now wants the institutions to help pay to keep them running by paying electricity tariffs.

Universities and teaching hospitals that are benefiting from these renewable energy systems include major institutions across Nigeria.

The government says institutions must contribute to sustaining the assets if they want to keep using them.