Nigeria advances 1,000MW solar hub and dozens of mini‑grids to boost power access

The Federal Government of Nigeria has moved forward with a suite of renewable‑energy projects across the north. The Northern Nigeria Energy Company (NNEC) was registered to deliver a 1,000 MW utility‑scale solar power plant with 500 MW of battery storage, financed by the U.S. Export‑Import Bank and backed by the U.S. government. A memorandum will be presented to the Federal Executive Council for final approval.

In Adamawa State, Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe broke ground on three interconnected mini‑grids at Kofare, Saminaka and Mbamba, adding 13.5 MW to the DARES programme. The broader rollout includes 39 mini‑grids in Adamawa, projected to provide nearly 27 MW to about 40,000 households, 6,000 SMEs and over 100 public institutions.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) also inaugurated a 3.5 MW solar farm in Ambursa, Kebbi State. The $11 million project, co‑funded by the agency and technical partner KELM‑Elicoms, will serve roughly 1,500 households and features a three‑kilometre distribution network, refurbished transformers, 5,000 solar home systems and solar street lighting. The Kebbi solar plant forms part of the World Bank‑backed DARES programme, which targets $750 million to connect 17.5 million Nigerians through 1,300 mini‑grids.

Collectively, the initiatives represent the launch of 42 renewable‑energy projects – 39 mini‑grids in Adamawa and the Kebbi solar farm – under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to diversify the energy mix, improve grid stability and expand electricity access nationwide.