Umar Sani, a senior figure in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former spokesperson to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s decision to approve a ₦10 billion solar energy project exclusively for the State House.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Sani condemned what he described as the government’s misplaced priorities, arguing that such a massive expenditure on energy security for the presidency comes at a time when most Nigerians are battling unreliable power supply and escalating electricity tariffs.
“The President’s choice to shield the State House from the nation’s energy crisis through a ₦10 billion solar project sends a dangerous message,” Sani stated. “It suggests that governance is now about isolating those in power from the problems they were elected to fix.”
He pointed out that while the presidency defends the solar transition by drawing comparisons to the U.S. White House, Nigeria’s context is vastly different. “America has a stable grid. We do not. Our generation capacity is stagnant around 4,000 megawatts, and the transmission infrastructure is in disrepair. Instead of fixing this, the President is opting out—securing comfort for himself while citizens remain in the dark,” he said.
Sani argued that the ₦10 billion could have been more effectively used to address systemic failures in the power sector. “That money could fund significant upgrades to national transmission lines or support community-based power projects that benefit millions. This project does the opposite—it benefits one complex and leaves the rest of the country behind.”
He added that such decisions undermine public trust and reflect a growing disconnect between leadership and the day-to-day struggles of ordinary Nigerians. “At a time when the government is preaching cost-cutting, this extravagance is not only tone-deaf—it is unjustifiable. If every agency and citizen decides to ‘opt out’ like the presidency, what happens to the national grid and the billions we keep investing in it?”
Concluding his remarks, Sani warned that the project risks becoming a symbol not of innovation, but of elite insulation. “What could have been a model for sustainable energy may instead go down as yet another instance where leadership chose convenience over collective progress.”
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