FG Begins 16MW Solar Mini-grid Project in Gombe, Inaugurates New Facility
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), in partnership with the Gombe State Government and a private developer, has begun construction of a 16MW network
Nigeria's Rural Electrification Agency (REA) was established to extend power access to off-grid and underserved communities, often through solar mini-grids and hybrid systems developed in partnership with state governments and private investors. Gombe, like much of northern Nigeria, has long grappled with unreliable grid supply, making decentralised renewable projects a key part of federal efforts to improve electricity access outside the national grid, particularly for rural households, markets and small businesses.
The coverage agrees that the REA, working with the Gombe State Government and a private developer, has moved forward on a solar mini-grid initiative in the state, with one facility already commissioned. However, reports differ slightly on scale — one account refers to a 16MW network beginning construction, while another describes a 1MW solar mini-grid integrated with a newly inaugurated facility — suggesting the 16MW figure may refer to a broader multi-site programme of which the commissioned unit is an initial component. Details such as the project's total cost, funding sources, specific communities to be served, and expected completion timeline have not yet been reported.