From John Bassey, Gusau
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has highlighted the benefits of solar energy and his government’s commitment to harnessing solar energy for mini-grids and autonomous power systems in the state.
The Governor disclosed this at a roundtable meeting with officials of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) held in Abuja, where a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Zamfara State Government and the Rural Electrification Agency.
He said his administration is focused on revamping the Zamfara electricity sector to promote social justice, strategic development, and innovation via renewable energy.
Governor Lawal, at the meeting, remarked that he inherited a government gripped by widespread epileptic power supply.
According to him, “Many Local Government Areas were disconnected from the national grid. Public utilities were decayed, vandalised, or non-functional. Critical infrastructure had collapsed under years of neglect, and our industrial and commercial centres were crippled by unreliable power supply.
“However, we chose not to wallow in the blame game. Instead, we intentionally responded to the challenges we met with strategic vision, unwavering resolve, and decisive actions.
“Since then, our administration has embarked on a mission to rewrite that narrative by placing energy access at the heart of our development strategy. We launched one of the country’s most ambitious state-led transformer deployment programmes, installing more than 150 units across urban and rural communities.
“In collaboration with Kaduna Electric, we restored power to six local government areas and are reconnecting seven more, some of which have been without power for over a decade. These efforts are part of a plan to expand access, stimulate enterprise, and unlock private sector investment.”
Governor Lawal, however, said Zamfara offers compelling advantages for renewable energy investment. “We are blessed with high-intensity year-round sunlight, making us a prime location for solar farms, mini-grids, and standalone systems.
“Coupled with this is the immense potential of the Bakalori Dam, a largely untapped hydropower asset with an irrigation command area of over 30,000 hectares. This synergy of solar and hydro presents an opportunity to deploy hybrid energy solutions that can sustainably power semi-urban and rural clusters.
“Our agricultural sector is another strong anchor. Zamfara is consistently ranked among Nigeria’s top millet, sorghum, soybeans, and groundnuts producers. We are repositioning this sector through improved inputs, mechanised systems, and irrigation rehabilitation.
“Yet, what is lacking—and what renewable energy can provide—is the critical power infrastructure needed for agro-processing, cold-chain storage, and value addition at the source. Energy is the missing link that can transform our agrarian communities into engines of rural industrialisation.
“Our infrastructure renewal is exemplified by the nearly complete Gusau International and Cargo Airport, envisioned as a gateway for passengers, trade, logistics, and investments.
“To realise our green vision, we aim for this facility to be Nigeria’s first airport powered by at least 50% renewable energy, offering RESCOs a chance to lead in sustainable aviation.”
Earlier, REA Managing Director, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, assured Governor Lawal of the agency’s commitment to deploying electricity infrastructure in Zamfara State.
“For the first time in the history of Nigeria, mapping the entire country has been done, and it shows the number and location of the people who do not have electricity. The nature of their community and their electricity demand.
“This helps the RESCOs, the financiers, and the state government develop a strategy for channelling efforts to ensure that these people have electricity,” he explained.
The event brought together energy sector stakeholders as part of continued state-by-state strategic meetings.