LASU Spends Over ₦200m Monthly on Power as Energy Crisis Bites Universities
Mirian Gom 
LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos State University spends more than ₦200 million monthly on electricity, highlighting the growing financial strain of Nigeria’s energy crisis on public universities, officials have disclosed.
The Lagos Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, revealed the figure on Friday during the groundbreaking ceremony for a new student hostel project at the university’s Ojo campus.
According to Sule, the cost covers grid electricity bills and diesel used to power generators across academic buildings, hostels and administrative units.
The heavy reliance on self-generated power reflects persistent instability in Nigeria’s electricity supply, forcing institutions to divert funds meant for academic development.
“This has placed significant pressure on the university’s finances,” he said.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, outlined plans to ease the burden through dedicated power projects, including an 11-megawatt plant for LASU and an additional four-megawatt facility for its Epe campus.
He said the government has committed billions of naira to improving infrastructure, including student accommodation and teaching facilities nationwide.
Alausa also highlighted a new 1,500-bed hostel project under a Public-Private Partnership, aimed at addressing severe accommodation shortages.
With LASU’s student population estimated at over 84,000 and only about 7,000 bed spaces available, the project is expected to significantly improve student welfare.
Officials say stable electricity supply will boost teaching, research and overall campus productivity, while reducing reliance on costly diesel generation.
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