A Federal Government plan to provide stable electricity to federal teaching hospitals and universities through a N300bn power intervention has stalled because funds appropriated in the 2025 budget have not been released, the Ministry of Power confirmed.
The 2025 Appropriation Act included a special energy intervention of over N300bn aimed at delivering reliable and sustainable electricity to critical institutions such as federal universities and tertiary hospitals.
The initiative was designed to reduce dependency on diesel generators and address persistent blackouts that affect healthcare delivery and academic activities nationwide.
Despite the allocation being passed by the National Assembly and signed into law, no releases have been made from the Ministry of Finance and Budget Office of the Federation to implement the project.
As a result, the planned interventions have not commenced, and hospitals and universities continue to rely on generators and inconsistent grid power.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Power, Bolaji Tunji, said the special energy project received “zero funding” from the 2025 budget, meaning no progress has been recorded since the allocation was announced.
The intervention package was intended to support solar hybrid and renewable energy solutions at federal teaching hospitals and universities, prioritising institutions that deliver essential services.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Bichi, said the initiative was part of efforts to ensure uninterrupted electricity for healthcare operations and academic activities.
The plan was also linked to statements that President Bola Tinubu approved the inclusion of special budgetary provisions to address power outages in critical public sectors.
However, with no funds released, the solar mini-grid projects have not been installed at designated beneficiary institutions.
The absence of fund releases means hospitals and federal universities remain without the intended stable electricity supply under the special energy intervention.
Many facilities still depend on expensive diesel generators to power critical services, indicating persistent operational costs for energy.
According to reports, teaching hospitals have faced high electricity bills following tariff changes and the removal of subsidies, with some facilities incurring significantly increased energy costs.
The stalled intervention may delay potential cost savings and improvements in service delivery that reliable power could bring.
Beneficiary institutions listed for the solar mini-grid initiative include University College Hospital, Ibadan; University of Lagos; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. As of now, none have seen the project implemented on the ground.
