Gombe State has commissioned a one-megawatt solar mini-grid in Talasse, headquarters of Balanga Local Government Area, ending 17 years of electricity deprivation in the community and surrounding areas.
Key Highlights
- A 1MW solar mini-grid ends 17 years without electricity in Talasse, Balanga LGA.
- About 6,000 households and businesses are expected to benefit.
- Gombe plans to extend the programme to 80 communities.
- Filiya and Gelengu projects are 90 per cent complete.
- Gombe is benefiting from 17MW of solar mini-grids across four LGAs.
The facility was commissioned by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, alongside the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, as part of efforts to expand electricity access and stimulate economic activities in rural communities.
The project, implemented through a partnership involving the federal government and the World Bank, is expected to provide electricity to about 6,000 households and business premises.
Boost for Farmers, Traders and Artisans
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Yahaya said the project would improve living conditions, boost businesses and enhance service delivery in healthcare and education.
He noted that the prolonged absence of electricity had constrained the activities of farmers, artisans, traders and small-scale business owners, limiting productivity and economic growth in the area.
The governor urged residents to take advantage of the facility to establish businesses, create employment opportunities and expand agro-processing activities.
To support the productive use of electricity, Inuwa Yahaya disclosed that the project would be complemented with equipment, including rice-milling machines, electric flour grinders and groundnut oil-processing machines, which would be made available to beneficiaries at favourable prices.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding electricity access to rural communities, announcing plans to extend the programme to 80 communities across the state.
According to him, plans are underway to commence four-megawatt interconnected solar mini-grid projects in other beneficiary communities, while similar projects in Filiya and Gelengu have reached 90 per cent completion.
Electricity Act Reforms
The governor attributed the state’s progress in the electricity sector to reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu, particularly the Electricity Act 2023, which he said has created opportunities for subnational governments to attract investment and expand access to reliable power.
He explained that the establishment of the Gombe State Electricity Regulatory Commission and Gombe Electricity Company Limited had provided an institutional framework for greater private-sector participation and the development of a diversified electricity market.
While appreciating the federal government, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the World Bank and other technical partners for supporting the project, the governor stressed the need for effective management and regular maintenance to ensure its sustainability.
He also urged residents to protect the facility against vandalism, theft and illegal connections, describing its preservation as a collective responsibility.
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17MW Across Four LGAs
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed that Gombe State is benefiting from a combined 17 megawatts of solar mini-grid projects across four local government areas under the partnership with the federal government.
Tegbe described the Talasse project as an important step towards providing electricity to underserved communities, noting that the federal government is pursuing off-grid power solutions to stimulate grassroots economic development and strengthen national energy security.
He commended the Gombe State government for its collaboration with the federal government and investments in infrastructure development.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, said the federal government has approved $750 million to support electricity access for more than 30 communities across the country.
Aliyu described Gombe State as a model in implementing the initiative and commended the governor for his commitment to expanding electricity access.
Lawmakers, Community Leaders React
The member representing Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, Rep. Ali Isa, also praised the state government for its infrastructure investments and efforts to extend electricity to Talasse and neighbouring communities.
Similarly, the member representing Balanga North, Musa Buba, said the community had experienced years of inadequate infrastructure and development interventions before the current administration.
Buba said the commissioning of the solar mini-grid represented a significant intervention in addressing the area’s longstanding electricity challenges.
The Gombe State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Sanusi Pindiga, said the project demonstrates the importance of collaboration between federal and state governments in advancing electricity sector reforms and promoting inclusive development.
The Director-General of the Gombe State Joint Project Agency, Mahmood Yusuf, assured the minister and the REA of the state government’s commitment to the safety, effective management and maintenance of the facility.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of Balanga Local Government Area, Ibrahim Salihu, and the Bala Waja, Danjuma Muhammad, described the project as a major intervention for the community.
They expressed appreciation to the federal and state governments and pledged the community’s support for the protection and sustainability of the facility.
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