The Federal Government has broken ground on three interconnected mini-grid projects in Kofare, Saminaka and Mbamba communities of Adamawa State, with a combined generation capacity of 13.5 megawatts, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expand electricity access to underserved communities across Nigeria.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Honourable Minister for Power, Joseph Tegbe, described the initiative as another milestone in the nation’s journey towards universal electricity access, energy security and a cleaner energy future.
He stressed that mini-grids are not a substitute for the national grid but an integral part of Nigeria’s power architecture, as the country builds a more diversified system combining grid infrastructure, mini-grids, renewables and storage.
Tegbe linked the projects to the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) Programme, the world’s largest publicly funded renewable energy access initiative, mobilising public and private investment to connect millions of Nigerians to reliable power.
The Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency, Mr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said the projects form part of a wider rollout of 39 mini-grids across Adamawa State, three interconnected and 36 isolated, with a combined capacity of nearly 27MW, set to reach about 40,000 households, 6,000 MSMEs and over 100 public institutions.
He commended Tegbe’s sustained support for renewable energy and his recognition of mini-grids as a key part of the national grid ecosystem.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri commended the Federal Government for the initiative and thanked Tegbe for his leadership, noting the projects were a direct outcome of last year’s REA State-by-State Roundtable, which brought developers and state governments together and demonstrated Adamawa’s investment readiness.
While performing the official groundbreaking, the Minister commended the state government for providing 30 hectares of land, praised REA’s implementation efforts, and acknowledged development partners, DisCos, financiers and host communities for their roles.
He urged host communities to protect the mini-grid assets from vandalism, describing them as belonging to the people.
For the beneficiary communities, today marks more than the start of construction, it is the beginning of a new chapter in which reliable power drives commerce, deepens learning, and secures livelihoods.
As the Renewed Hope Agenda continues to light up communities once left in the dark, today’s milestone is further proof that Nigeria’s electricity future is being built deliberately, efficiently and sustainably.