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The federal government has commenced the rollout of renewable energy projects expected to inject more than 60.82 megawatts (MW) of electricity into Nigeria’s power system.
The target marks one of the country’s most significant recent efforts to expand electricity access through decentralised generation.
The milestone was achieved on Wednesday after the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) performed the groundbreaking for a 13.92-megawatt-peak (MWp) interconnected hybrid solar project in Yobe State, bringing the cumulative capacity of its recent mini-grid projects nationwide to 60.82MW.
The latest project follows the commencement of 46.9MW of renewable energy infrastructure across five states, comprising a 20MW mini-grid in Egume, Kogi State; an 11.9MWp project in Ogu-Bolo, Rivers State; a 10MW installation in Kofare, Adamawa State; a 3.5MW mini-grid in Ambursa, Kebbi State; and a 1.5MW project in Pankshin, Plateau State.
The World Bank-supported Yobe project will deliver 13.92MWp of interconnected hybrid solar power across key commercial and residential locations in the state, supported by 40 distribution transformers to improve electricity supply, support businesses, and stimulate economic activity.
The project consists of a 3.20MWp solar installation in Nguru, another 3.20MWp facility at Yarimaram in Potiskum, a 2.98MWp system in Gashua, a 2.78MWp project at Rugan Fulani in Potiskum, and a 1.76MWp installation serving the Waziri Ibrahim Estate in Damaturu.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni described the project as a major boost to the state’s economic development, saying it aligns with his administration’s drive to build resilient infrastructure capable of supporting industrial growth and agricultural productivity.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, Dr Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said the interconnected hybrid mini-grids were designed to integrate seamlessly with existing electricity distribution networks while expanding access to underserved communities.
“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,” Aliyu said.
He disclosed that the agency’s expansion programme extends beyond the current 60.82MW of projects already flagged off nationwide.
According to him, the REA has 14 additional renewable energy projects in the pipeline for Yobe State, with a combined generation capacity of 15.3MWp.
The projects, which stem from a strategic roundtable held in June 2025, are expected to provide about 23,870 new electricity connections to communities including Jawur Katamma, the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, and Dibbwol.
The latest investments underscore the Federal Government’s growing reliance on decentralised renewable energy systems to bridge Nigeria’s electricity access gap, particularly in rural and underserved communities where grid extension has remained slow and costly.
