By Seun Ibiyemi
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), in collaboration with the Federal Government and the governments of Adamawa and Kebbi states, has commenced the construction of 42 renewable energy projects aimed at expanding electricity access, stimulating economic growth and improving livelihoods in underserved communities.
The projects consist of 39 mini-grid installations in Adamawa State and a 3.5-megawatt solar power plant in Kebbi State, under the Federal Government’s rural electrification programme.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Adamawa, Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, described the initiative as a major milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to achieve universal electricity access under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the 39 projects would inject nearly 27 megawatts of clean, reliable and sustainable electricity into communities across Adamawa, making it one of the largest decentralised renewable energy programmes implemented in a single state.
According to the minister, about 40,000 households and businesses across Kofare, Saminaka, Mbamba, Gulak, Michika, Shuwa, Bazza, Belel, Ganye, Song, Hong, Mubi, Guyuk and other communities will benefit from the projects.
Tegbe noted that the initiative would also provide electricity to approximately 6,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), including welders, tailors, grain millers, cold-room operators, ICT businesses and agro-processors, while over 100 public institutions such as schools, healthcare centres and water facilities would also be connected.
He said the projects would not only improve access to electricity but also create jobs, boost productivity and reduce dependence on petrol and diesel generators.
“Behind every connection is more than a meter. It is a family whose quality of life will improve, a child whose education will be enhanced, an entrepreneur whose business will expand, and a community whose future will become brighter,” the minister said.
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Tegbe added that the mini-grids were designed to complement the national grid in communities with inadequate or no electricity supply while attracting greater private sector investment into Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, described the project as a significant step towards tackling energy poverty and accelerating economic development in the state.
He said the groundbreaking represented more than the commencement of infrastructure projects, stressing that it reflected a deliberate commitment to harnessing renewable energy for sustainable development.
Fintiri recalled that the initiative stemmed from discussions held during an REA investment roundtable in Abuja in 2025, where the state offered incentives, including free land, concessional financing and credit guarantees, to attract investors.
Managing Director of the REA, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said the projects demonstrate the agency’s commitment to ensuring no community is left behind in Nigeria’s transition to clean energy.
He said the success of the programme would be measured not only by the 27 megawatts of electricity deployed but also by the businesses created, jobs generated, farms mechanised and improvements in education and healthcare.
In Kebbi State, Governor Nasir Idris flagged off the construction of a 3.5-megawatt solar power project alongside the Lot 7 Design, Supply and Installation of a 33kV Power Infrastructure Project in Ambursa.
The governor said the project would improve electricity supply across the state, support economic activities and provide reliable power through battery storage systems capable of supplying electricity after sunset.
Dr. Aliyu disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved a $750 million facility for the REA to implement interconnected mini-grid projects nationwide.
He said about $10 million would be invested in the Kebbi project, which is expected to provide electricity to more than 1,000 households and critical facilities, including the Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi.
The contractor, Kobeissi Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Ltd., assured that the project would be completed within eight months.
The projects form part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to accelerate rural electrification, reduce energy poverty, promote private sector participation and expand access to clean and affordable electricity across Nigeria.
