REA says varsities, teaching hospitals use 1,068 generators as power source

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has revealed that over 1,068 generators are being used as alternative power supply source by existing 37 federal universities, and seven university teaching hospitals in Nigeria.

REA, which cited Energy Audit Results, said in a statement that the hazards, failures, limitations, and costs associated with such source of power supplies, informed the formulation, adoption, and the ongoing implementation of the Energising Education Programme (EEP) by the Federal Government.

The EEP is designed to provide uninterrupted electricity supply accessible to the tertiary institutions and their host communities through the utilisation of off-grid captive power plants.

REA revealed that over 224,800 people across the implementation of the EEP Phase 1, would be provided with sustainable power sources and supplies to enhance their socioeconomic undertakings.

About eight federal universities, and one teaching hospital benefiting from the phase one of the EEP include the: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Bayero University, Kano; Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto; and Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi. Others are the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra; University of Lagos, Akoka; Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Delta; Obafemi Awolowo University, and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Osun.

Also for the Phase 1 are seven of the nine planned power plants, 10.5MW out of a total of 26.56MW, will be fuelled by solar energy, in line with the federal government’s energy-mix policy.

REA said: “The EE Programme is in line with fulfilment of the social contract and government responsibility to its citizens, and will positively affect the education, health, power, law enforcement and finance sectors of the country.”

REA said the programme has been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and the power sector regulator, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Among other benefits, it will remove barriers to effective learning, innovation and advancement; institutional operations, law enforcement and security; student residency and quality of life; university small, medium, and large scale businesses.

It added that taking the universities and university teaching hospitals off the grid would ensure self-sufficiency in power and sustainable development for the Nigerian institution; and free up energy on the grid, which could be better channelled towards improving supply to deficient areas.

It will also reduce air and noise pollution from diesel and petrol generator alternative power supplies; encourage the development of renewable energy and captive power plants; improve the general standard of learning and living in the universities and a host of others.

It said due to cost implications and time constraints, the projects under the EEP could not be implemented at the same time, thus it was divided into phases, with Phase one designed for the generation of 28.56MW covering nine federal universities and one University Teaching Hospital across the six geopolitical zones. Also, given technology justification, gas fired plants were the recommended solution for two of the Phase one universities/projects, whilst solar hybrids were recommended for the remaining seven.