The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has restored electricity to two communities in Kano State after 16 years without power, commissioning mini-grid projects expected to supply 2,222 households and support economic activities.
The projects comprise a 195-kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar mini-grid in Ballagaza and a 70kWp system in Marayar Rogo, both in Warawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
Abba Aliyu, managing director of the REA, disclosed this during the commissioning of the projects, according to a statement issued by the agency on Thursday.
The installations form part of the Federal Government’s efforts to expand electricity access under its Renewed Hope Agenda, which targets providing power to more than 17 million Nigerians.
Aliyu said the projects demonstrate how public-private partnerships could help extend electricity to underserved communities, with private investment covering construction and long-term operations while government support helps reduce costs for consumers.
“The Federal Government did not build these mini-grids and hand them over. Alfuttaim Nigeria Limited invested its own money, built them, and will own and operate them for many years,” Aliyu said.
He explained that the government, through the REA’s Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme, supported by the World Bank, subsidised part of the project costs to make electricity more affordable.
Under the DARES programme, Nigeria is working towards deploying 1,350 mini-grids, while the initiative has already delivered new or improved electricity access to more than five million Nigerians, according to Aliyu.
He said expanding access would require sustained investment by private companies, government support and community participation, particularly in areas where electricity infrastructure remains limited.
The projects are expected to improve agricultural processing, small-scale businesses and access to essential services in the beneficiary communities.
In Gabazawa, known for producing groundnuts, millet, sorghum and soya, electricity is expected to help farmers and processors increase production through the use of electric machinery.
Groundnut processors, for instance, could use electric machines to produce groundnut oil and kuli-kuli, potentially increasing output and improving their ability to sell finished products at better prices.
The new electricity supply is also expected to benefit the community’s primary healthcare centre, which previously operated without power.
Nabilah Sani, co-founder of Alfuttaim Nigeria Limited, said the projects would improve household access to electricity and support agricultural productivity.
She added that the two sites were among 10 locations under development by the company in Kano State.
Sani urged residents to protect the infrastructure against vandalism to ensure the projects continue to provide electricity over the long term.
Aliyu also commended Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf for prioritising electricity access and providing an enabling environment for the projects.