Solar Mini-Grid: Buni Hails FG’s Power Drive, Says 13.92MW Will Boost Yobe’s Economy

Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni has commended the Federal Government for the 13.92MWp Interconnected Hybrid Solar Mini-Grid Projects being implemented across five communities in the state, saying the intervention will further expand electricity access and accelerate socio-economic development.

A statement issued by the director general Press Affairs and to the Governor, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed said, Buni stated this while performing the groundbreaking ceremony for the projects in Damaturu.

The projects, being implemented under the Federal Government’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA), are located in Waziri Ibrahim estate, Damaturu; Rugar Fulani and Yarimaram in Potiskum; Gashua in Bade Local Government Area; and Nguru in Nguru Local Government Area.

The Governor said the projects aligned with his administration’s vision of building resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable economic growth to improve the lives of the people.

According to him, access to reliable electricity remains critical to economic development, particularly in expanding opportunities for businesses, improving public services and creating jobs for young people.

He said the Federal Government’s intervention would complement the state government’s sustained efforts to expand electricity access to rural and underserved communities across Yobe.

“Over the years, our administration has successfully initiated and completed the electrification of over 450 rural communities across the state and connected several others to the National Grid, thereby expanding access to electricity and stimulating socio-economic development,” Buni said.

The Governor said his administration had also restored electricity supply to communities whose power facilities were vandalised during the Boko Haram insurgency, describing the restoration as part of efforts to rebuild communities and revive economic activities.

He added that the government had connected Gulani and Yunusari local government areas to the National Grid after decades without such access.

“Similarly, we connected the 30-year-old Gulani Local Government and the 35-year-old Yunusari Local Government to the National Grid, while 33kV and 11kV lines were also extended to underserved communities in the state,” he said.

Buni disclosed that the state government had also constructed a dedicated feeder line from the 330/132/33kV Injection Substation to provide adequate and sustainable electricity to Yobe State University and the Teaching Hospital.

He further said the government had installed, rehabilitated and upgraded transformers and transmission infrastructure across communities, schools, healthcare facilities and government institutions.

The interventions, he noted, included support for the installation of a 132/33kV, 60MVA transformer at the Damaturu Injection Substation.

Governor Buni said the new solar mini-grid projects would complement these interventions by improving access to electricity in communities that remain underserved and helping to unlock their economic potential.

He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and the Rural Electrification Agency for the intervention, noting that sustainable electricity was essential to the state’s development aspirations.

The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Mr Abba Aliyu, commended Governor Buni for his commitment to improving the lives of citizens through expanded electricity access.

Aliyu said the projects were expected to be completed within six months and appealed to the beneficiary communities to cooperate with the contractors and protect the facilities once completed.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Alhaji Mahmoud Mamman, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to providing sustainable electricity to Nigerians.

He urged the beneficiary communities to protect electrical infrastructure against vandalism and other forms of damage to ensure the projects deliver their intended benefits.