In a significant move to expand access to electricity and promote sustainable energy solutions, the Gombe State Government has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MIDS Dynamics Ltd and the state’s Joint Project Development Agency to develop solar mini-grids for rural and underserved communities across the state.
The MoU, signed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, was formalized on the sidelines of the 6th meeting of the Gombe State Joint Development Project Council, and witnessed by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON.
Under the agreement, each of the three partners the State Government, Local Governments through the Joint Project Development Agency, and MIDS Dynamics Ltd will contribute an agreed percentage of investment to drive the project, which is expected to reach more than one million households across the state within the next three years.
Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, Barrister Sani Ahmad Haruna, Chairman of Gombe Local Government and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, said the initiative aligns with the eligibility criteria of international financiers such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AFDB). He noted that the MoU enables the state to qualify for critical grant funding that will support the large-scale rollout of off-grid solar energy.
“The first phase of this project will begin in Talasse and other unconnected communities in Balanga local government council, with plans to extend to Shongom and other LGAs in subsequent phases,” Haruna said.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of MIDS Dynamics Ltd, Engr. Halis Muhammad, praised the state government’s commitment to sustainable development. He revealed that MIDS Dynamics, which is currently the largest recipient of AfDB energy grants in Nigeria, had completed detailed surveys and feasibility studies across Gombe.
“We are determined to electrify over a million households in Gombe within three years. Our company has successfully implemented similar mini-grid projects across northern Nigeria and the broader Sahel region. What we’re doing here in Gombe is part of a bigger picture — a shift towards an inclusive and green energy future,” Engr. Muhammad stated.
The MoU was officially signed by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Hon. Sanusi Ahmad Pindiga, on behalf of the Gombe State Government. Also present were the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Zubair Muhammad Umar; ALGON Chairman, Barr. Sani Ahmad Haruna; and his deputy, Hon. Fatima Binta Bello, who signed as witnesses to the agreement.