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The Nigerian government and the Gombe State government have commissioned a 1-megawatt solar mini-grid in Talasse, Balanga Local Government Area, restoring power to the community after 17 years without national grid access.
The facility, commissioned on Saturday, October 17, 2026, features a 2.4-megawatt-hour battery storage system designed to supply electricity to over 6,000 households and businesses through smart prepaid meters.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe hailed the milestone, stating, “Now you have brought light to the people of Balanga Local Government Area after 17 years of darkness,” while affirming that President Bola Tinubu “will not stop until we power the entire Nigeria.”
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Governor Inuwa Yahaya emphasised that the project fulfils his 2025 campaign pledge to transform the area into a hub of enterprise and renewed hope.
To maximise economic benefits, his administration plans to roll out productive-use machinery, including rice mills, flour grinders, and electric motorcycles.
Yahaya noted, “These interventions are designed to promote agro-processing, reduce production costs, enhance productivity and create new opportunities for employment and wealth creation.”
He also urged residents to safeguard the infrastructure against vandalism and illegal connections to ensure its long-term sustainability.
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The project marks a pioneering public-private partnership, with Gombe State acting as an equity investor alongside private developer Mids Dynamics Limited under the Nigeria Electrification Project supported by the World Bank.
Mids Dynamics Managing Director Khalid Mohammed highlighted the novelty of the deal, noting, “At Talasse, for the first time in the Federal Republic, a state government has come forward as an equity investor, acquired a direct stake in the project and complemented the performance-based grant.”
Rural Electrification Agency Managing Director Abubakar Aliyu revealed that six other states have already replicated the “Gombe Model” as part of broader efforts to scale off-grid power across underserved rural regions.
