By Jelili Gbadamosi
The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce electricity tariffs for 25 federal universities and teaching hospitals benefiting from its renewable energy projects.
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the unveiling of the state-owned Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO).
Tegbe explained that the new charges would be used to maintain and sustain renewable energy facilities already installed by the government, stressing that public assets should not be allowed to deteriorate after completion.
He said institutions that had enjoyed free electricity from the government’s renewable energy projects would now be expected to pay for the power they consume.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, supported the move, saying the Federal Government had invested heavily in renewable energy projects under the Energising Education Programme.
According to Aliyu, REA has deployed 82 megawatts of solar-hybrid power across 22 federal universities and three teaching hospitals since 2017.
He said beneficiary institutions must contribute towards the upkeep of the facilities by paying electricity tariffs, noting that such payments would help ensure the long-term sustainability of the projects.
Institutions benefiting from the programme include Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, alongside three teaching hospitals.
The event was attended by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, among other officials.
