FG Ends 17-Year Blackout in Gombe Community, Begins 16MW Solar Projects

By Adebola Muili

The Federal Government has restored electricity to Tallasse community in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State after 17 years without power, following the commissioning of a one-megawatt solar mini-grid equipped with a 2.4-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system.

The development was announced in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday by Adeola Labzy, Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe.

The commissioning also marked the flag-off of a 16-megawatt network of four interconnected solar mini-grids across Dukku, Bajoga, Kumo and Kaltungo communities, as the Federal Government moves to expand electricity access and stimulate economic activities across the state.

The Tallasse project, delivered through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in partnership with the Gombe State Government and a private developer, already serves 6,028 connections.

Beyond household electricity supply, the facility is equipped with electric groundnut oil processing, rice milling and flour grinding facilities, as well as electric tricycles to support agricultural processing, transportation and other commercial activities.

Speaking at the commissioning, Tegbe described the projects as a practical demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that renewable energy initiatives were being expanded across different parts of the country.

He said the restoration of electricity marked a significant turning point for Tallasse residents, who had endured 17 years without power, adding that the benefits of the investment should reflect in improved livelihoods and increased economic opportunities.

“The true significance of these investments will be measured in the daily lives they improve: the farmer who can process produce closer to home, the trader who can preserve perishable goods, the artisan who can power equipment, and the young person who can build a livelihood within the community,” the minister said.

Tegbe added that the projects could strengthen public services, reduce dependence on costly self-generated electricity and attract businesses to the benefiting communities.

He said the Ministry of Power would work with the Gombe State Government, developers and host communities to ensure the infrastructure delivered reliable electricity, encouraged productive activities and supported long-term prosperity.

The minister also urged residents to protect the facilities against vandalism to guarantee their continued operation.

In his remarks, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya described the projects as the product of collaboration between the state government and the Federal Government through the REA.

Yahaya said combining electricity supply with rice milling, groundnut processing, flour production and electric mobility would strengthen the local economy, particularly in an agricultural community such as Balanga.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the REA, Abba Aliyu, said the agency was shifting its focus from measuring electricity projects by the number of connections and megawatts installed to assessing their economic outcomes.

Aliyu explained that electricity access without reliable supply could limit its impact, hence the integration of battery storage, intelligent monitoring systems, productive-use equipment and sustainable operating models into the projects.

He said the approach was intended to develop electricity systems that support businesses and livelihoods rather than merely install power plants.

The projects are being implemented under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up programme as part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to improve electricity supply through multiple solutions.

The strategy includes strengthening the national grid while accelerating the deployment of mini-grids, embedded generation, solar home systems and dedicated electricity infrastructure for universities, markets and agricultural clusters.

Traditional rulers and community leaders from Komu, Kaltung and Tallasse, members of the Gombe State Executive Council, members of the National and State Assemblies, and religious leaders attended the commissioning and flag-off ceremonies.