The Federal Government has flagged off the construction of a 13.92 megawatt-peak (MWp) interconnected hybrid solar mini-grid project in Yobe State to expand electricity access, boost businesses and support economic growth.
The project, implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with World Bank support, was inaugurated on Wednesday at five locations across Damaturu, Potiskum, Nguru and Gashua in Bade Local Government Area.
The project comprises a 1.76MWp solar plant at Waziri Ibrahim Estate in Damaturu, a 2.98MWp installation in Gashua, a 3.20MWp plant in Nguru, and two projects in Potiskum-a 3.20MWp facility at Yarimaram and a 2.78MWp installation at Rugan Fulani.
It also includes the deployment of 40 distribution transformers to improve electricity supply within the benefiting communities.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Governor Mai Mala Buni described the initiative as one of the largest interconnected hybrid solar mini-grid investments in Northern Nigeria, saying it would provide reliable electricity to thousands of households, markets, schools, hospitals, agricultural enterprises and small businesses.
He said the investment would stimulate industrial growth, promote entrepreneurship, create jobs for youths and women, improve healthcare delivery and enhance agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of REA, Dr Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said the interconnected hybrid mini-grids were designed to integrate with existing distribution networks to deliver reliable and affordable electricity to homes, businesses and public institutions.
He said the projects were aimed at unlocking economic opportunities by reducing energy costs and improving power supply to commercial and residential clusters.
‘We are not merely connecting communities to electricity. We are connecting them to opportunity. We are creating an environment where businesses can grow, young people can innovate, farmers can process more of what they produce, healthcare facilities can provide better services, and local economies can flourish,’ he said.
Aliyu said the projects were a product of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between REA and the Yobe State Government following the REA-Yobe Strategic Roundtable held in June 2025 to expand energy access and attract private investment.
He disclosed that the agency has an additional 14 electricity projects with a combined capacity of 15.3MWp in the pipeline across Yobe State, expected to provide about 23,870 new electricity connections.
The projects, he said, will cover communities including Jawur Katamma, Dibbwol, Dogonkuka, Malori, Turmi, Zangaya, Dole and Falimaran, as well as the Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, alongside expansion projects in Gashua, Nguru, Waziri Ibrahim, Yarimaram and Rugan Fulani.