Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has said his administration has electrified more than 450 rural communities across the state as part of efforts to expand access to electricity and boost socio-economic development.
Buni stated this on Wednesday while performing the groundbreaking ceremony for 13.92MWp interconnected hybrid solar mini-grid projects in Damaturu.
The projects, being implemented under the Federal Government’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA), are located in Waziri Ibrahim, Damaturu; Rugan Fulani and Yarimaram in Potiskum; Gashua in Bade Local Government Area; and Nguru in Nguru Local Government Area.
The governor said the projects were in line with his administration’s commitment to infrastructure development and sustainable economic growth.
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He said the state government had also connected several communities to the national grid and restored electricity to communities whose facilities were vandalised during the Boko Haram insurgency.
Buni said Gulani and Yunusari local government areas, which had remained without connection to the national grid for about 30 and 35 years, respectively, had now been connected.
He added that 33kV and 11kV lines had been extended to underserved communities across the state.
The governor further disclosed that his administration had constructed a dedicated feeder line from the 330/132/33kV Injection Substation to provide adequate and sustainable electricity to Yobe State University and its Teaching Hospital.
He stated that the government had also installed, rehabilitated and upgraded transformers and transmission infrastructure serving communities, schools, healthcare facilities and government institutions.
Buni added that the state supported the installation of a 132/33kV, 60MVA transformer at the Damaturu Injection Substation.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, commended the governor for his commitment to the projects, saying they would improve the lives of residents.
Aliyu said the projects were expected to be completed within six months and urged beneficiary communities to cooperate with the contractors and protect the facilities.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Mahmoud Mamman, said the Federal Government was committed to providing sustainable electricity to Nigerians.
He urged residents of the beneficiary communities to protect electrical infrastructure against vandalism.