Nigeria’s federal government has launched construction of a 13.92 megawatt-peak interconnected hybrid solar mini-grid in Yobe State, adding to a cumulative 60.82 megawatts of solar-generated electricity being injected into the national grid amid persistent power supply challenges.
The Yobe initiative, which broke ground Wednesday, brings the total solar infrastructure developed across six states to 60.82 megawatts. Prior to this project, the government had already deployed 46.9 megawatts across five locations.
According to the Rural Electrification Agency, the existing installations include a 20-megawatt mini-grid in Egume, Kogi State; an 11.9 megawatt-peak project in Ogu-Bolo, Rivers State; and a 10-megawatt installation in Kofare, Adamawa State. Smaller projects comprise a 3.5-megawatt mini-grid in Ambursa, Kebbi State, and a 1.5-megawatt project in Pankshin, Plateau State.
Abba Abubakar Aliyu, managing director of the Rural Electrification Agency, said the interconnected hybrid mini-grids are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing distribution networks.
“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.
The solar expansion comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with chronic electricity deficits. Africa’s most populous nation, with over 250 million people, has for decades struggled to generate a maximum of 6,000 megawatts — far below demand. The current installed capacity leaves much of the country reliant on diesel generators or without reliable power access.
Energy analysts say distributed solar mini-grids offer a practical pathway to extend electricity to underserved communities while reducing pressure on the overstretched national grid. The hybrid design — combining solar generation with battery storage and grid interconnection — allows surplus power to feed into the broader network while maintaining localized supply during outages.
The Rural Electrification Agency has positioned the mini-grid program as central to the federal government’s strategy for achieving universal energy access. Officials indicate additional projects are in the pipeline across other states, though specific timelines and locations have not been disclosed.
For rural communities in Yobe, Kebbi, Plateau, Adamawa, Rivers, and Kogi, the installations represent more than additional megawatts. They signal a shift toward decentralized renewable energy as a complement to centralized generation — a model increasingly adopted across sub-Saharan Africa to bridge the electrification gap.
