The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has raised alarm over the soaring cost of electricity, disclosing that it spends almost N4 billion annually on energy, a situation the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, described as crippling and unsustainable.
Speaking at a press conference marking the institution’s 63rd anniversary held at the Senate Building, Samaru Main Campus, on Saturday, Ahmed said the energy bill had become a major strain on the university’s finances and a threat to its academic and research activities.
“The university spends close to N4bn every year on energy. This figure is not only shocking but clearly unsustainable. It is crippling our operations and undermining our ability to deliver quality education and conduct meaningful research,” he stated.
The Vice Chancellor noted that ABU could no longer depend solely on the national grid due to its unreliability and high cost. To address this, he said the university had embarked on a renewable energy initiative aimed at achieving self-sufficiency and reducing expenditure.
According to him, the Federal Government had already intervened with an initial N1 billion support through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), while a 10-megawatt renewable energy project had also been approved to provide stable and affordable power to the university.
Ahmed added that ABU was collaborating with its alumni and development partners to advance sustainable energy solutions, citing a solar-powered project being implemented by the SBS Class of 1975 for one of the university’s CBT centres.
“ABU is taking its destiny into its own hands while continuing to seek external support to sustain growth,” he said.
Reflecting on the university’s 63-year journey, Ahmed recalled that ABU was established in 1962 by the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, to serve as a bridge of unity and development for the country.
“Sir Ahmadu Bello founded ABU to train the manpower required for Northern Nigeria’s development and, by extension, the entire nation. He envisioned an institution rooted in service, excellence, and unity,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor lamented that insecurity and poverty had hindered development in the North, affecting education and social stability. He noted that the university would now channel more of its research and advocacy efforts towards tackling insecurity, food scarcity, and unemployment.
Ahmed further revealed that ABU had commenced advocacy visits to northern state governments, encouraging closer collaboration with academic institutions to develop evidence-based solutions to regional challenges.
He highlighted the university’s vast agricultural assets, including the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, describing ABU as the most resource-endowed agricultural research institution in West Africa.
