The Niger State Government has secured $150 million in financing from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for the development of a 100-megawatt solar power project aimed at expanding electricity access and improving energy reliability across the state.
The Chairman of the New Niger Development Project (NNDP), Mustapha Abubakar, disclosed this on Tuesday at the second edition of the quarterly media briefing organised by the Niger State Ministry of Information and Orientation in Minna.
According to Abubakar, the state government will provide an additional $10 million counterpart contribution, bringing the total investment in the project to $160 million.
He attributed the approval of the financing to the state government’s track record in executing the Minna-Bida Road project, which he said had strengthened Niger State’s credibility with the IsDB.
“I can tell you in the portfolio of IsDB as of today, the Minna-Bida Road project is the best-managed project, and because of the way we have effectively managed the project, it has helped us secure a loan for a solar project,” Abubakar said.
He disclosed that the solar facility would be located in Maikunkele and would include social intervention programmes targeted at improving the livelihoods of communities around the project area.
The financing builds on an earlier plan announced in January for the IsDB-backed Niger State Solar Electrification Project, also known as NGA1063.
The project is expected to occupy about 200 hectares of land and generate 100MW of electricity, with the potential to improve power supply to communities, support industrial activities, enhance agricultural productivity and stimulate wider economic growth in the state.
The solar initiative is also part of the state government’s broader effort to reduce reliance on the national grid and provide a more dependable electricity supply for households, businesses and industries.
The development comes amid persistent challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector, including inadequate power supply and recurring grid disruptions, which have prompted several subnational governments to explore alternative energy sources.
The project is also in line with the broader push for increased electricity access across Africa under the Mission 300 initiative of the African Development Bank and the World Bank, which seeks to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
The IsDB’s procurement notice for the project identifies solar photovoltaic power generation, grid interconnection and evacuation infrastructure, design and supervision consultancy, project management and financial audit among its key components.
The project is expected to contribute to Niger State’s renewable energy transition while supporting economic activities and improving access to reliable electricity across the state.
