The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), in collaboration with the Federal and State Governments, has performed the groundbreaking of 42 renewable energy projects in Kebbi and Adamawa States as part of ongoing efforts to expand electricity access, stimulate economic growth, and improve the livelihoods of underserved communities.
The projects comprise 39 mini-grid projects in Adamawa State and a 3.5-megawatt solar power project in Kebbi State, all being implemented under the Federal Government’s rural electrification programme.
In Adamawa State, the Federal Government officially flagged off the construction of 39 mini-grid projects comprising three interconnected mini-grids and 36 isolated mini-grids under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) Programme. The interconnected mini-grid projects are located in Kofare, Saminaka, and Mbamba, with installed capacities of 10 megawatts, 2.6 megawatts, and 890 kilowatts respectively.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony today, the Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, described the projects as a major milestone in the Federal Government’s commitment to achieving universal electricity access through President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, the 39 projects will inject nearly 27 megawatts of clean, reliable, and sustainable electricity into communities across Adamawa State, making it one of the largest decentralised renewable energy programmes implemented in a single state.
He said the projects would provide electricity to about 40,000 households and businesses across Kofare, Saminaka, Mbamba, Gulak, Michika, Shuwa, Bazza, Belel, Ganye, Song, Hong, Mubi, Guyuk, and other communities.
The Minister noted that beyond providing electricity, the initiative would power approximately 6,000 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, including welders, tailors, grain millers, cold-room operators, ICT businesses, and agro-processors, thereby boosting productivity, creating jobs, and reducing dependence on expensive petrol and diesel generators.
He added that more than 100 public institutions, including schools, healthcare centres, and water facilities, would also benefit from the programme.
“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,” Tegbe said.
He explained that the mini-grids are designed to complement the national grid, particularly in communities with inadequate or no electricity supply, while attracting private sector investment into Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
The Minister commended Adamawa State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, for his administration’s commitment to the project, particularly the provision of land and support for implementation.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the REA, development partners, investors, and community leaders, urging residents to safeguard the facilities against vandalism to ensure their sustainability.
In his remarks, the Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, expressed deep fulfillment, describing the event as a strategic turning point for the state.
“This is not just a foundation laying; it is the announcement of our collective resolve to launch a strategic onslaught against energy poverty and to deliberately harness nature’s bounties through alternative energy sources.”
“This project will not only light up our communities but open up the state to more prosperity and economic growth,” Governor Fintiri said.
Governor Fintiri recalled that the journey began in 2025 during an REA-convened roundtable in Abuja where he pitched Adamawa as a prime investment hub, offering incentives like credit guarantees, concessional financing, and free land.
“Today, this again is a testament that our word has always been our bond. We have moved the discussion beyond the boardroom to reality,” the Governor noted, praising the collaboration between the developer, Mahashakti Nigeria Limited, and the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC).
“Walking into the future, we aspire to see an Adamawa state where Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) solutions power every community, where robust mini-grids connect remote communities, and where our agricultural and transportation sectors are transformed by clean and sustainable energy innovations,” Fintiri added.
Also speaking at the Adamawa event, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, emphasized that the project reflects the agency’s commitment to ensuring that no community is left behind in Nigeria’s energy transition.
“We are gathered here not merely to break ground for infrastructure; we are here to switch on a new future for the people of Adamawa State.”
“Years from now, the success of today’s ceremony will not be measured simply by the 27 megawatts we deploy. It will be measured by the businesses created, the jobs generated, the farms mechanized, the schools transformed, the healthcare services improved, and the countless lives changed because reliable electricity became available,”
Dr. Aliyu said.
Meanwhile, in Kebbi State, Governor Nasir Idris flagged off the groundbreaking ceremony for the state’s 3.5-megawatt solar power project and the Lot 7 Design, Supply, and Installation of a 33kV Power Infrastructure Project in Ambursa.
The Governor said the project, being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency, would significantly improve electricity supply across the state and support socio-economic development.
He described electricity as the lifeblood of modern economies, noting that the solar project would be supported by battery storage systems capable of providing power even after sunset.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the REA and disclosed that the state government provided the project site free of charge to the contractor, Kelm Elicon Joint Venture.
He urged the contractor to deliver quality work within the agreed timeline and appealed to residents of Ambursa to cooperate with workers and protect the project after completion.
Speaking at the Kebbi event, the REA Managing Director, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved a $750 million facility for the agency to implement interconnected mini-grid projects across Nigeria.
According to him, about $10 million will be invested in the Kebbi project, which is expected to provide electricity to more than 1,000 households as well as strategic facilities, including the Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi.
He added that the investment would improve power reliability, support businesses, and strengthen the state’s economic development.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Kobeissi Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Ltd., Ali Kobeissi, assured that the project would be completed within eight months and appealed to host communities to provide maximum cooperation for successful execution.
The projects in Adamawa and Kebbi form part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to accelerate rural electrification through renewable energy solutions, reduce energy poverty, promote private sector participation, and expand access to clean and affordable electricity across Nigeria.
