Barely two years after it was commissioned, the ₦5.6 billion solar hybrid power plant at Bayero University, Kano (BUK) has reportedly collapsed, forcing students and staff back into erratic electricity supply and high energy costs.
The 3.5-megawatt facility, inaugurated in September 2019 by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, was once celebrated as Africa’s largest off-grid solar power plant. Executed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Energising Education Programme and handled by Greek firm METKA, the project powered lecture halls, hostels, offices, and staff quarters — slashing energy costs by over 60%.
However, by 2021, the plant reportedly developed major faults and was shut down, pushing the university back to diesel generators and reliance on the national grid. Staff and students say the collapse ended a golden period of uninterrupted daytime power that significantly improved learning, security, and productivity on campus.
University workers blamed the failure on overuse, lack of energy storage facilities, rising maintenance costs, and limited technical involvement of BUK experts during implementation. Inflation and prolonged inactivity reportedly worsened the d+mage as critical components depreciated over time.
In response, the REA has announced plans to revive and expand the plant to 6MW under a ₦100 billion federal solarisation programme. Speaking at the relaunch on November 20, 2025, REA Managing Director Dr Abba Aliyu Abubakar said the project would undergo a total overhaul to provide 24-hour power supply.
BUK Vice-Chancellor Prof. Haruna Musa revealed that the university currently spends over ₦130 million monthly on electricity, adding that the new phase will fully involve university experts to ensure long-term sustainability.
While students and staff welcomed the intervention, many insisted on strict accountability and transparency to prevent a repeat of the costly failure.
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