More than 6,000 households and businesses in Talasse community in Gombe State are expected to benefit from a newly commissioned one-megawatt solar mini-grid project, which has brought electricity to the area after 17 years without connection to the national grid.
The people of Talasse, located in Balanga Local Government Area of the state, have been living without public power supply for almost two decades, a situation that had crippled economic activities and made life difficult for residents.
The commissioning of the solar mini-grid has therefore brought great joy and relief to the community, as residents can now enjoy regular electricity for their homes and businesses.
The project was executed with the support of the Federal Government and the World Bank under the Nigerian Electrification Project being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency, REA.
The Nigerian Electrification Project is a Federal Government initiative designed to provide off-grid electricity solutions to rural and underserved communities across the country where connection to the national grid is difficult or not economically viable.
Under the programme, renewable energy projects such as solar mini-grids are deployed to bridge the electricity access gap and promote socio-economic development in rural areas.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held in Talasse, the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, expressed happiness that the long wait for electricity in the community has finally come to an end.
Governor Yahaya said the provision of electricity to Talasse will open up new opportunities for economic growth, improve living conditions and enhance the overall development of the area.
He noted that access to reliable power supply is critical for driving small and medium scale enterprises, improving healthcare delivery, enhancing education and boosting agricultural productivity.
The Governor assured the people of the community that the state government will provide necessary equipment and support to help farmers increase their productivity, generate income and create jobs for the teeming youths.
According to him, with stable electricity, farmers in Talasse and surrounding communities can now engage in agro-processing, cold storage and other value addition activities that will increase their earnings and reduce post-harvest losses.
He also said the state government will continue to partner with the Federal Government and development partners to extend similar projects to other communities in Gombe State that are yet to be connected to the national grid.
Yahaya called on residents of Talasse to take ownership of the project, protect the facilities from vandalism and ensure prompt payment for electricity consumed to guarantee its sustainability.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Power, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, said the Talasse solar mini-grid project is a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding electricity access to all parts of the country.
The Minister explained that the government is determined to ensure that no community is left behind in its quest to achieve universal electricity access and to drive inclusive development.
He said off-grid renewable energy solutions like solar mini-grids have become important tools for reaching communities that are far from the national grid and that cannot be easily connected due to geographical and financial constraints.
Tegbe noted that the project will not only provide light to homes but will also stimulate economic activities, create jobs and improve the quality of life of the people of Talasse.
He commended the Rural Electrification Agency for its efforts in implementing the Nigerian Electrification Project and for ensuring that the project was completed according to specifications.
The Minister also appreciated the World Bank for its financial and technical support towards improving electricity access in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, who was represented at the event, said the Talasse project is one of many renewable energy interventions being executed by the agency across the country.
He disclosed that similar renewable energy projects are being planned for other underserved areas in Gombe State as part of efforts to ensure that every community in the state has access to reliable and affordable electricity.
He explained that the agency is working with private sector developers and development partners to deploy solar mini-grids, solar home systems and other clean energy technologies to communities without electricity.
According to him, the REA is committed to ensuring the sustainability of the projects through proper community engagement, capacity building and the adoption of cost-reflective but affordable tariffs.
Residents of Talasse who spoke at the ceremony expressed their gratitude to the Federal Government, the Gombe State Government, the World Bank and the Rural Electrification Agency for bringing electricity to their community after 17 years of darkness.
They said the availability of electricity will help to revive businesses that had collapsed due to lack of power, enable artisans to work more efficiently and allow children to study at night, thereby improving academic performance.
Many of them also expressed optimism that the project will attract new investments to the community and help to reduce rural-urban migration by creating economic opportunities for the youths.
