Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that the country’s airports are spending more than N1 billion on energy costs, a situation he described as unsustainable. Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s Political Paradigm on Tuesday, October 8, Keyamo emphasized the need for a transition from traditional energy sources to solar power as a solution to reduce costs and minimize revenue losses.

Keyamo highlighted the excessive electricity bills and the constant use of diesel generators, even when airports are not operational, as major contributors to the financial strain. He pointed out that the reliance on generators to power facilities, particularly in major airports like Lagos and Abuja, has become a significant drain on resources.

“We want to go with a full blast into off-rigid power supply at our airports because that is the major source of loss of revenue,” Keyamo said. “We have to run the diesel generators even when there are no flights landing, and the airport is empty. We are spending more than N1 billion on energy for Lagos and more than N1 billion for Abuja, running generators overnight and paying high electricity bills.”

To address these concerns, Keyamo advocated for a shift to solar energy, which he believes would not only cut down on energy costs but also provide a more sustainable and environmentally friendly power solution for airports across the country.

The minister’s comments come as Nigeria faces increasing pressure to adopt more efficient energy strategies in critical sectors like aviation, where operating costs are skyrocketing. By transitioning to solar energy, Keyamo believes the aviation sector can alleviate some of its financial burdens while also contributing to broader efforts to promote clean energy use in the country.

The call for solar energy adoption is in line with the government’s push for renewable energy solutions, as Nigeria continues to grapple with high electricity costs and limited access to reliable power sources.