The Federal Government has commissioned a 3MW hybrid mini-grid project at the Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja to improve power reliability within the institution.
The project was officially launched during a ceremony attended by the Minister of Power, Enyinnaya Abaribe, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Lanre Tejuosho. Also present were the Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Joseph Tegbe, and the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Akinwunmi Fawehinmi.
The 3MW hybrid system is designed to provide a stable electricity supply to the university by combining renewable energy sources with other power options. This move is intended to reduce the institution’s dependence on the national grid and the high costs associated with diesel-powered generators.
During the commissioning, government officials also disclosed that a national call centre is being established to receive and resolve electricity complaints from consumers across Nigeria. The facility is expected to address the long-standing challenges regarding customer service and fault reporting in the power sector.
Strengthening electricity consumer protection
The deployment of the hybrid mini-grid is part of a broader strategy by the Rural Electrification Agency to expand access to electricity through decentralized renewable energy solutions. The REA, through the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), has been working to implement similar solar-based technologies in various underserved locations and public institutions.
The Managing Director of the REA, Akinwunmi Fawehinmi, was joined by other senior officials, including the Executive Director of Corporate Services, Abba Aliyu, and the Head of the Nigeria Electrification Project, Femi Akinyelure. The agency continues to focus on scaling up mini-grid capacity to bridge the energy gap in the country.
The announcement of the national call centre comes as a response to frequent criticisms of the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) regarding their responsiveness to consumer issues. For years, Nigerian electricity consumers have reported difficulties in resolving billing disputes and reporting technical faults through existing channels.
By creating a centralised mechanism for grievance redressal, the government aims to increase accountability within the power value chain. This initiative is expected to provide a more direct link between the regulator and the end-user, facilitating faster resolution of technical and commercial complaints.
The implementation of the call centre will require the finalisation of technical infrastructure and the recruitment of trained personnel to manage the high volume of expected enquiries. The government has yet to provide a specific date for when the call centre will become fully operational for the public.
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