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Presidential Villa to Go Off-Grid with Solar Power by March 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Presidential Villa in Abuja is on track to sever its connection to the national electricity grid by March 2026, following the completion of a dedicated solar mini-grid project. The Federal Government has finalized plans to move the seat of power entirely off-grid, marking a major step toward energy independence and cost reduction.

State House Permanent Secretary, Temitope Fashedemi, disclosed this on Wednesday while defending the 2026 budget proposal before the Senate Committee on Special Duties at the National Assembly. He confirmed that the solar installation was completed in late 2025 and has been undergoing technical evaluation since December.

“We are hopeful that by March we will be able to effect a full cutover,” Fashedemi told lawmakers. He emphasized that the shift from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) would significantly lower the operational costs of running the Presidential Villa.

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To demonstrate the viability of the project, Fashedemi cited the State House Medical Centre, which has operated entirely on solar power since May 2025. According to him, the facility has not switched on its generator since installation.

“In fact, since May last year, the generator at the Medical Centre has not been switched on for one minute,” he said. He added that less than three per cent of the centre’s energy needs were briefly supplemented from AEDC during the initial transition phase, with the remainder fully covered by solar panels and battery storage.

The Federal Government allocated N10 billion in the 2025 budget for the solar mini-grid project—a decision that sparked public debate at the time. An additional N7 billion has been proposed in the 2026 Appropriation Bill to consolidate and expand the initiative.

The transition comes amid efforts to resolve longstanding electricity debt. In February 2024, AEDC listed the Villa among its top government debtors, with an outstanding balance of N923.87 million. Following reconciliation, the figure was reduced to N342.35 million, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed to be settled immediately.

Fashedemi further revealed that the testing phase uncovered instances of overbilling by AEDC, including charges for electricity allegedly not delivered. He confirmed that discussions were ongoing to reconcile what he termed “legacy liabilities” with the utility company.

With the full transition to solar, the Villa will no longer rely on its aging generator fleet, some of which have been in use since the complex was first constructed.

While a few units may be retained strictly for emergency purposes, Fashedemi expressed confidence that the new solar infrastructure would provide stable, sustainable power for the entire Presidential Villa.

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JAMB Arrests Two, Parent over Result Falsification

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced the arrest of two candidates and a parent for falsifying 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results using Artificial Intelligence and other electronic tools.

The disclosure came as the board released scores for 632,788 candidates who sat the examination on Thursday, April 16.

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JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, in a statement, said the suspects were apprehended for manipulating official SMS result notifications to fabricate or alter scores with the intent to deceive others, including parents and guardians.

“Currently, two candidates and one parent are in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement read.

Benjamin warned that such conduct constituted a serious criminal offence and that the board would pursue all culpable persons to the full extent of the law.

He also cautioned candidates against tampering with result messages from JAMB’s official SMS platforms, 55019 and 66019.

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Group asks Governor Yusuf to appoint Ganduje’s daughter as Kano Deputy Governor

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A group has called on the Governor of Kano State to appoint the daughter of former Governor of Kano, Dr. Asiya Balaraba Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as Deputy Governor.

The group, known as Haɗin Kan Jam’iyyar APC ‘Yan Dangole from Kano State, expressed its support for Dr. Asiya Ganduje to become the Deputy Governor of Kano State.

According to the group, Dr. Asiya Ganduje is a woman committed to serving the people, especially the youth, through various programs that have improved their lives.

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They stated that she has demonstrated competence and dedication in politics, contributing to opportunities for youth and women in areas such as education, skills acquisition, and self-reliance.

The group also emphasized that Dr. Asiya Ganduje possesses compassion and vision for improving the lives of citizens, while encouraging women to participate in politics and economic activities.

Furthermore, they praised her cooperative character and loyalty to party principles, saying this has made her a role model for women and youth.

In conclusion, the group declared that her appointment as Deputy Governor would help bring progress, unity, and prosperity to the people of Kano State.

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UTME 2026: JAMB to Release Day 1 Exam Results Today Before Midnight

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that the results of all candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Thursday, April 16, 2026, will be released on Friday, April 17.

Spokesperson of the board, Fabian Benjamin, announced this in a post on X, noting that an announcement would be made when the results are available.

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“This is to inform all candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16th April 2026, that their results will be released today before midnight. An official announcement will be made to the public and posted on this page as soon as the results are available. Thank you,” he wrote.

Scheduled to run through April 22, the examination is structured into four daily sessions beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m., a framework designed to manage the large volume of candidates and reduce congestion at Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.

This year, nearly 2.2 million candidates are participating across 966 accredited centres, each expected to meet operational benchmarks such as functional computer systems, stable internet connectivity and electricity as well as adequately trained personnel.

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