The Federal Government is set to introduce electricity tariffs for federal universities and teaching hospitals benefiting from its renewable energy projects as part of efforts to sustain the facilities.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, announced the plan on Wednesday in Abuja during the unveiling of the Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO).
Tegbe said the decision was aimed at preventing government-funded renewable energy assets from deteriorating after installation, noting that institutions benefiting from the projects would now be required to contribute to their maintenance.
He explained that several institutions had enjoyed free electricity under the programme for about two years, but the arrangement would end with the commissioning of the projects.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, said the Federal Government had invested substantially in renewable energy through the Energising Education Programme.
Aliyu disclosed that REA had deployed 82 megawatts of solar-hybrid power across 22 federal universities and three teaching hospitals since 2017.
According to him, requiring beneficiary institutions to pay for the electricity they consume would enable the government to recover part of its investment and ensure the facilities remain operational.
He stressed that sustainable funding was necessary to preserve the renewable energy infrastructure and guarantee continued power supply to the institutions.
Among the beneficiaries are Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, as well as three teaching hospitals.
The announcement was made in the presence of the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, and other government officials.
