Gombe community gains power after 17 years
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The governments of Nigeria and Gombe State commissioned a 1-megawatt solar mini-grid in Talasse, Gombe State, bringing electricity to a community that lacked it for 17 years.
The new system includes a 2.4-megawatt-hour battery and will serve over 6,000 homes and businesses via a smart grid. Power Minister Joseph Tegbe stated the project advances national efforts to expand electricity access and support sustainable development, while also noting President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to providing power to all communities.
The commissioning ceremony on October 17, 2026, fulfilled a promise Governor Inuwa Yahaya made in November 2025. Yahaya expects the electricity to boost economic activity and improve living standards in the rural area, and his administration has created a legal framework to attract investment in the state's power sector. He also announced plans for additional 4-megawatt solar mini-grid projects in Akko, Dukku, Funakaye, and Kaltungo.
To support the new electricity access, the Gombe State government will provide equipment like rice milling machines and oil-processing equipment to local farmers and entrepreneurs. The Rural Electrification Agency is currently working on 32 projects in Gombe State, and the “Gombe Model”, where the state government invests directly in renewable energy projects, has attracted interest from six other states. The Talasse facility is designed to generate over 950 megawatt-hours of electricity over its 25-year lifespan.
