The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has commissioned a 1MW solar mini-grid integrated with a 2.4MWh battery energy storage system in Tallasse, Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Executed in partnership with the Gombe State Government and a private energy developer, the project launch coincided with the official flag-off of a 16MW interconnected mini-grid network spanning Dukku, Bajoga, Kumo, and Kaltungo communities.
According to a statement issued to journalists at the weekend, and signed by Adeola Labzy, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of power, Joseph Tegbe, the initiative is designed to deepen off-grid energy penetration and catalyze commercial activities across the state.
Labzy stated that the newly commissioned Tallasse project which currently services 6,028 active connections, operates under a productive-use framework and incorporates electric groundnut oil processing, rice milling, flour grinding facilities, and electric tricycles for local logistics, signalling a strategic shift from basic residential electrification to enterprise expansion.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Joseph Tegbe, the Minister of Power, noted that the infrastructure reflects the Federal Government’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda to scale decentralized renewable energy across key economic corridors, including Adamawa, Lagos, Oyo, Plateau, Kano, Kwara, and Gombe states.
Tegbe stated that the true significance of these investments will be measured in the daily lives they improve, enabling farmers to process produce closer to home, traders to preserve perishable goods, artisans to power machinery, and young people to build sustainable livelihoods within their communities.
He added that as the infrastructure comes online, it will reduce heavy reliance on expensive self-generation, enhance public services, and attract fresh enterprise to rural areas, while urging host communities to safeguard the assets against vandalism.
“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.
“As the projects become operational, they can strengthen public services, reduce dependence on costly self-generation and attract enterprise. Working with the Gombe State Government, developers and host communities, is to translate this infrastructure into dependable service, productive activity and lasting local prosperity,” Tegbe said.
Highlighting the alignment between federal energy policy and subnational economic goals, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Gombe State Governor, emphasized that reliable power combined with agricultural processing capacity will significantly boost local value chains across Balanga.
Governor Yahaya noted that in an agricultural hub like Balanga, pairing reliable electricity with rice milling, groundnut processing, flour production, and electric mobility strengthens the entire local economic structure rather than simply providing household lighting.
Also speqking at the event, Abba Aliyu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the REA, outlined a strategic pivot in the agency’s execution framework. He explained that the programme is shifting focus from vanity metrics such as raw connection numbers and megawatt counts toward measuring long-term economic outcomes.
Aliyu emphasized that access without reliability limits overall impact. To address this, the project combines solar generation with battery storage, intelligent monitoring, productive-use equipment, and sustainable operating models aimed at building complete electricity ecosystems rather than isolated power plants.
The developments are being delivered under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme.
Through this initiative, the Federal Government is pursuing a multi-pronged approach: stabilizing the national grid while accelerating mini-grids, embedded generation, solar home systems, and dedicated power supply for universities, markets, and agricultural clusters.
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