Key points
- REA says Yobe will receive nearly 14MW of electricity through five interconnected hybrid solar mini-grids.
- The project forms part of a $750 million programme to provide electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians.
- Yobe says it has electrified over 450 rural communities and expanded renewable energy infrastructure.
Main story
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) says Yobe State will receive nearly 14 megawatts of clean electricity through five interconnected hybrid solar mini-grids as part of efforts to expand access to reliable power across the state.
Managing Director of the agency, Mr Abba Aliyu, disclosed this on Wednesday in Damaturu during the groundbreaking ceremony for the 13.92MW interconnected hybrid solar mini-grid project.
Aliyu said the project fulfilled a commitment made by the agency in June 2025 to make Yobe the renewable energy construction hub of Nigeria.
According to him, the project will inject about 14MW of clean, reliable and affordable electricity into the Yobe electricity distribution network.
He said the initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s $750 million programme approved by President Bola Tinubu to provide electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians through the deployment of 1,350 mini-grids nationwide.
Aliyu said Yobe was among the major beneficiaries of the programme.
He explained that, in addition to the five interconnected mini-grids, the project includes electricity distribution lines, more than 40 transformers, electricity poles and household metering across the benefiting communities.
The REA boss disclosed that the agency had also commenced 14 additional electrification projects in communities including Dapchi, Gogon Kuka, Malori, Tulmi, Zangaya, Falimaram, Jawur and Katama.
He attributed the progress to the support of Gov. Mai Mala Buni, particularly for facilitating land acquisition through the Yobe Geographic Information System (YOGIS), which he said accelerated project implementation.
Aliyu expressed confidence that the projects would be completed and inaugurated within six months.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Alhaji Mamuda Gurara, said the project reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity.
He said the ministry was implementing reforms under the Electricity Act 2023, promoting renewable energy deployment and expanding off-grid electricity solutions through solar mini-grids and hybrid systems.
According to Gurara, the project will improve electricity supply to households, businesses and public institutions, reduce dependence on fossil fuel generators, lower energy costs and stimulate economic activities.
In his remarks, Gov. Buni said his administration had electrified more than 450 rural communities, restored electricity to areas affected by insurgency and connected Gulani and Yunusari Local Government Areas to the national grid after decades without public power supply.
He added that the state had installed more than 17,000 solar-powered streetlights, deployed solar hybrid systems in hospitals and public institutions, and upgraded electricity infrastructure across Yobe.
Buni said the new mini-grid project would provide reliable electricity to thousands of households, schools, hospitals, farms and businesses in Damaturu, Buni Yadi, Gashua and other benefiting communities.
He also announced that the state government had secured all project sites, paid compensation to affected landowners and issued Certificates of Occupancy to facilitate seamless implementation.
The issues
Nigeria is expanding off-grid renewable energy projects to bridge the country’s electricity access gap, particularly in underserved communities where grid infrastructure remains limited. Hybrid solar mini-grids have become a key component of the Federal Government’s rural electrification strategy.
What’s being said
Aliyu said the project would inject nearly 14MW of clean electricity into Yobe’s distribution network as part of a nationwide programme to provide electricity to 17.5 million Nigerians.
Buni said the state had already electrified more than 450 rural communities and was strengthening its regulatory framework to attract private investment into the electricity sector.
What’s next
REA expects the interconnected solar mini-grid project and the additional electrification projects underway in Yobe to be completed and commissioned within six months, expanding access to reliable electricity across the state.
Bottom line
The REA-Yobe partnership marks another step in Nigeria’s push to expand renewable energy, with the 13.92MW hybrid solar mini-grid project expected to improve electricity access, stimulate economic activities and reduce reliance on fossil fuel-powered generators.
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