The Federal Government has allocated N300 billion to provide stable electricity supply to teaching hospitals and universities across the country.
Abubakar Bichi, member representing Bichi Federal Constituency and the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, disclosed this on Wednesday at the unveiling of a solar hybrid intervention project in the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.
He said the initiative was part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to end recurring power outages in critical sectors, especially in healthcare and tertiary education.
According to him, the allocation will fund the installation of renewable energy systems, with priority given to institutions that provide essential services to Nigerians.
“This intervention is designed to guarantee uninterrupted power for hospitals and universities so that doctors can save lives and students can study without disruption,” Bichi said.
He explained that the projects would also reduce the burden of high electricity bills on government institutions, improve efficiency, and promote the use of clean energy.
Bichi commended the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, for providing leadership in translating government’s vision into concrete action.
He added that the Energy Commission of Nigeria would work with other relevant agencies to ensure the timely delivery of the projects.
He commended Tinubu for approving special budgetary allocations to address power challenges in tertiary hospitals and universities across the country.
On AKTH solar power project, Bichi said the intervention followed appeals made to him by Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of teaching hospitals during the preparation of the 2025 appropriation bill.
He recalled that in November 2024, CMD of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, among others, raised concerns over the high cost of powering critical health facilities, sometimes spending up to N200 million monthly on electricity and diesel.
According to him, the issue was discussed with the leadership of the National Assembly and later taken to President Tinubu, who directed the inclusion of funds for solar hybrid projects in the 2025 budget.
Bichi disclosed that about N300 billion was provided in the budget to support power supply in all federal universities and tertiary hospitals.
He said Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) would benefit from between 6 and 7MW solar power.
Also, Bayero University Kano would benefit from 5 to 6MW, while state-owned facilities such as Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and Nasarawa Hospital would also receive federal support due to Kano’s large population.
“Specifically, AKTH alone got N26 billion in the 2025 budget for projects including accident and emergency, stroke centre, heart surgery, radiology, and family medicine complexes.
“This is unprecedented in the history of the hospital,” Bichi said.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Abdulrahman Sheshe, commended Tinubu for the gesture.
He said that the project would go a long way in improving services delivery in the hospital.
Sheshe also lauded the efforts of Bichi and the minister of science and technology in realisation of the project.
Alleged drug trafficking: Saudi Arabia frees 3 Nigerian pilgrims
The Saudi Arabian authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims earlier detained in Jeddah over alleged drug trafficking, following weeks of diplomatic and security engagements.
The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa made this known while addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
The NDLEA Chairman was represented by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi.
He said that the pilgrims, identified as Mrs Maryam Abdullahi, Mrs Bahijja Abdullahi and Mr Abdulhamid Saddieq, were freed after spending four weeks in custody.
He also said that their release came after his sustained interventions and engagement with the leadership of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia.
He explained that the efforts were fully supported by President Bola Tinubu, alongside the contributions of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
This, he said included efforts from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN; and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
He added that investigations by the NDLEA revealed that a drug syndicate operating at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, had tagged illicit drug-laden bags with the names of the unsuspecting pilgrims.
This, he said where people who travelled via Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah on Aug. 6, 2025, for lesser hajj.
“Following petitions from the families of the detainees, the NDLEA launched a probe which led to the arrest of the suspected mastermind, 55-year-old Mohammed Ali Abubakar.
“Abubakar who is also known as Bello Karama was arrested with three accomplices. The accomplices include airline officials identified as Celestina Yayock, Abdulbasit Sagagi, and Jazuli Kabir,”he said.
Marwa, however, said that charges had since been filed against the four suspects in Nigeria.
“Armed with the outcome of our investigation, charges filed against the syndicate members, and other evidence to establish the innocence of the pilgrims, we engaged Saudi authorities.
“This was at multiple levels, including in Saudi Arabia, in line with President Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should suffer unjustly in a foreign land,”he said.
The NDLEA boss said that following the engagements, one of the pilgrims was released on Sept. 14, while the remaining two regained freedom on Sept. 15.
Marwa commended the Saudi GDNC for honouring the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation and partnership between both agencies.
“The biggest support for our efforts came from President Tinubu, who is committed to ensuring that Nigerians receive their deserved respect and fair treatment across the world,” he said.
Marwa also lauded the assistance of the Attorney General, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Aviation, as well as the National Security Adviser.
“This outcome demonstrates that no Nigerian will be unjustly punished for crimes they did not commit anywhere in the world,” the NDLEA boss added.
