Adamawa launches interconnected solar mini grids for three communities
Adamawa State governor, Rt Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has launched the construction of three interconnected solar hybrid mini grids in Kofare, Mbamba and Saminaka, describing the project as a significant step towards tackling energy poverty and expanding access to reliable electricity across the state.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, Fintiri said the project marked the beginning of a deliberate transition to cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy while creating new opportunities for economic growth and investment.
According to the governor, the solar hybrid mini grids are the first major interconnected renewable energy systems to directly serve the three communities, adding that the initiative would improve electricity supply for households, schools, hospitals and businesses.
“This is not just a foundation laying ceremony; it is the announcement of our collective resolve to confront energy poverty and deliberately harness alternative energy sources for development,” he said.
Fintiri traced the origins of the project to discussions held in 2025 with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), culminating in an investment roundtable in Abuja themed Empowering Adamawa: Unlocking Private Sector Opportunities in Distributed Renewable Energy.
He said the state used the forum to position itself as a destination for renewable energy investment by offering incentives including free land for solar farms, concessional financing options and credit guarantees aimed at reducing investors’ risks.
The governor said those engagements resulted in several memoranda of understanding with private investors, adding that the commencement of the mini-grid project demonstrated the state’s commitment to honouring agreements reached with investors.
Fintiri described the collaboration between Mahashakti Nigeria Limited, the project developer, and the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) as a model for future energy partnerships.
He said integrating the mini grids into YEDC’s distribution network would improve the reliability and long-term sustainability of electricity supply while supporting the implementation of Adamawa’s emerging electricity policy.
“As a government, our vision is to build an investor-friendly energy ecosystem where public-private partnerships flourish and innovation drives development,” he said.
The governor announced that the Adamawa State Government had allocated the project site to Mahashakti Nigeria Limited at no cost to facilitate implementation and encourage further private investment in the state’s renewable energy sector.
He also disclosed that more than 20 solar-powered mini grids approved by the Rural Electrification Agency are currently being deployed across Adamawa, describing the development as evidence of productive collaboration between the federal and state governments.
Looking ahead, Fintiri said his administration envisions a future in which distributed renewable energy powers communities across the state, supports agricultural production, improves transportation and stimulates job creation.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating what he described as an enabling environment for private sector participation in the energy sector through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The governor also commended the Minister of Power, Joseph Olasukanmi Tegbe, for supporting the initiative, and praised the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, for expanding energy access across the country.
Fintiri urged residents of Kofare, Mbamba and Saminaka to take ownership of the project and protect the facilities to ensure they deliver lasting benefits to their communities before formally performing the groundbreaking ceremony.