We will use Solar to reduce cost in our Airports-Keyamo… Reveals N12bn yearly  expenditure on electricity..

Oru Leonard 

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that the Federal Government will install Solar Energy to reduce the cost of power which currently stands at N1bn monthly, to power the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

Keyamo stated this on Monday during the ministerial press update in Abuja to mark President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office.

He said presently the ministry is bypassing the power distribution companies to buy electricity directly from the generating companies, to save cost by N300m.

“We want to run our airports with solar and that will save us so much every month. Lagos airport alone, I was told we do N1bn every month, and I asked why.

“The first thing I said they should do is bypass the Discos and go to the Gencos because we are eligible customers. Why do you pay a Disco that will add profit when you are an eligible customer? Cut them off and go to the Gencos straight.

“We are doing that and they are protesting up and down to go and meet the president. By doing that, we are saving 30 per cent. When we are supposed to pay N1bn, we will pay N600m,” the minister stated.

Meanwhile, Keyamo emphasised that the Nigeria Air project remained suspended.