The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has begun construction of two major renewable-energy projects in Kano State as part of efforts to boost stable power supply to key public institutions in the state.
The projects being constructed in the state, includes, a 6-megawatt hybrid mini-grid for Bayero University, Kano (BUK) as well as a 1.5-megawatt solar mini-grid for the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala.
The initiative will revive and expand BUK’s long-abandoned 3.5MW renewable-energy system, while the Dala hospital project aims to ensure uninterrupted power for critical medical operations.
Abba Aliyu, managing director of the agency, during the flag off of the project at the Orthopaedic Hospital, said the projects are part of the National Public Sector Solarization Initiative introduced by President Bola Tinubu to address electricity gaps in critical sectors.
According to him, the initiative is designed to revive and expand BUK’s long-abandoned 3.5MW renewable-energy system, while the Dala hospital project is aimed to ensure uninterrupted power for critical medical operations.
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He noted that the agency is mandated both to extend electricity to unserved areas and to improve supply reliability in underserved institutions.
“By the design of the initiative, we are intervening in four critical sectors: education, health, agriculture and security. Under education, we have deployed hybrid mini-grids in 15 federal universities.
“One of the beneficiaries is BUK, where we are expanding the mini-grid to six megawatts. In the health sector, the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala—an institution with a rich history dating back to 1959—is receiving a 1.5-megawatt system”, he explained.
Aliyu added that the hospital recently acquired MRI equipment that requires round-the-clock power, adding that “the intervention is targeted at providing the needed reliability for the MRI to function, creating a synergy between our work and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s support for the equipment,” he said.
Earlier in his address, Isa Nurudeen, medical director of the hospital, commended the federal government and the REA, saying the project would drastically cut the facility’s dependence on costly diesel generators. He noted that rising electricity tariffs have strained hospital budgets.
“Most hospitals have been in the news because of electricity challenges, especially under Band A. We can barely afford the bills. This intervention is timely. We need to run our MRI for 24 hours, and the electricity demand is huge. With this project, we are good to go”, he stated.
Nurudeen added that the solar mini-grid would help reduce the cost of patient care. “The biggest cost of running any hospital is power. Once power is taken care of, service costs will definitely come down,” he said.
The REA’s solarisation initiative is expected to significantly improve energy reliability, reduce operating costs and enhance service delivery for institutions across the country.
At BUK, Haruna Musa, Vice Chancellor of the university, highlighted the financial strain of powering the institution, revealing that BUK spends up to ₦130 million monthly on electricity bills, even with rationing. This figure, he noted, excludes diesel purchases and generator maintenance costs.
Musa welcomed the NPSSI intervention, describing it as “a transformative upgrade that will drastically reduce operating costs and ensure sustainable energy supply for the university.”
At BUK, BusinessDay gathered that REA will be reviving and expanding the university’s existing 3.5MW renewable energy plant—originally deployed in 2019 under the Energising Education Programme (EEP) Phase 1—into a modernised 6MW facility.
A technical assessment conducted earlier this year informed several key upgrades, including the replacement of outdated battery systems with cutting-edge lithium battery technology and the expansion of the solar PV array.
These improvements aim to deliver cleaner, more reliable, and cost-effective energy to the university community, enhancing teaching, learning, research, and infrastructure sustainability.
The NPSSI is a flagship, government-led programme designed to accelerate the deployment of distributed solar energy solutions across public institutions such as schools, hospitals, security facilities, and government offices.
The initiative formally kicked off earlier this year with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the REA, the Budget Office of the Federation, InfraCorp, and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).
Rooted in Nigeria’s broader clean energy transition goals, the NPSSI seeks to reduce the public sector’s heavy dependence on diesel, cut carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and lower the running costs of public institutions—many of which currently spend millions monthly on fuel and generator maintenance.
The programme is also expected to boost technical capacity in the renewable energy sector and ensure sustainable power for critical national infrastructure.
