The Federal Government has commissioned a 20-megawatt (MW) solar mini-grid power project in Kogi State, marking a major milestone in its efforts to boost electricity supply to rural and underserved communities.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu revealed that the landmark project is part of a broader regional energy expansion strategy, backed by a newly secured $100 million fund dedicated exclusively to mini-grid developments across the North Central geopolitical zone.
The newly launched 20MW facility is designed to provide clean, reliable, and sustainable electricity to thousands of households and local businesses in Kogi State.
By utilizing decentralized solar power, the project aims to reduce the community’s over-reliance on the national grid while drastically lowering energy costs for small-scale entrepreneurs and farmers.
Speaking, the Minister emphasized that the Kogi mini-grid serves as a pilot and blueprint for the utilization of the $100 million fund.
The massive financial injection will facilitate the rapid deployment of identical localized solar power infrastructures across other states in the North Central region over the coming months.
According to the Minister, this decentralized approach to rural electrification is a critical driver for local economic growth, job creation, and industrialization in areas that have historically suffered from unstable power supply.