$4m solar mini-grid project moves to deployment phase in Jigawa, Bauchi

The $4 million solar mini-grid project backed by All On and Energise Africa has moved into its deployment phase, with solar panels and other equipment now arriving at project sites across 19 communities in Jigawa and Bauchi States.

The projects, being developed by indigenous renewable energy company, Maskh Nigeria Limited, are expected to provide electricity to homes, businesses and public institutions while reaching almost 100,000 people across the two states.

The latest development comes days after All On and Energise Africa announced the $`4 million investment in Maskh on August 31, 2026, under the Demand Aggregation for Renewable Energy Technology (DART) Programme.

The earlier investment announcement said the funding would support the development and deployment of solar-powered mini-grids in underserved communities, with the aim of improving electricity access and supporting productive economic activities.

With equipment now arriving at the project sites, the investment is moving from financing and project development into physical infrastructure deployment.

The projects are expected to supply reliable electricity to households, schools, healthcare facilities, small businesses and other productive-use customers in communities where access to dependable electricity remains limited.

According to All On, the investment is also intended to strengthen the capacity of Maskh as an indigenous energy company and enable it to deploy renewable energy infrastructure at scale.

The development highlights the role of private and impact capital in expanding Nigeria’s off-grid electricity market, particularly in communities where extending conventional grid infrastructure may be difficult or costly.

All On said the investment demonstrates how catalytic capital can support indigenous energy companies to develop infrastructure in underserved markets, while Energise Africa said its investors were backing the project because of its potential social, economic and environmental impact.

For the beneficiary communities, the projects are expected to go beyond household electricity access by supporting businesses and essential public services.

All On said the mini-grids would create opportunities for productive use of energy, strengthen local enterprises and improve access to essential services.

The deployment also comes as Nigeria continues to expand decentralised energy solutions as part of efforts to close its electricity access gap.

All On’s off-grid energy research has identified decentralised energy systems, including mini-grids and solar home systems, as important options for communities that remain underserved by the conventional electricity grid.

The arrival of the equipment therefore marks an important step in the `$4 million project, with attention now shifting from the financing announcement to the actual construction and deployment of the 19 mini-grids across Jigawa and Bauchi.