Yobe Secures $5m Grant To Power Hospitals, Schools With Solar Energy

The Yobe State Government has secured a $5 million grant from the World Bank to provide rooftop Solar Photovoltaic (PV) power to critical health and educational institutions across the state.

A statement issued by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport and Energy, Dr Mustapha Abba Geidam said the intervention, which targets six key institutions, is aimed at improving service delivery by addressing persistent electricity challenges affecting healthcare and academic activities.

The project according to the statement will cover four major healthcare facilities, Specialist Hospital Potiskum, Specialist Hospital Geidam, Specialist Hospital Buni Yadi, and General Hospital Nguru as well as two educational institutions including Umar Suleiman College of Education, Gashua, and Yobe State University, Damaturu.

The initiative is part of a broader partnership between the Yobe State Government, the World Bank, and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), facilitated under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni.

The installation of solar PV systems the official said will provide clean, reliable, and cost-effective energy to the benefiting institutions, ensuring uninterrupted services, reducing dependence on diesel-powered generators, and lowering operational costs.

The project also follows a comprehensive feasibility study and energy needs assessment, which confirmed the suitability of most of the selected facilities for rooftop solar installations, with provisions for ground-mounted systems where necessary.

The detailed project document has been formally submitted to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the REA, Engr. Abba Aliyu, by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Energy, Dr. Mustapha Abba Geidam, on behalf of the state government, for immediate consideration and implementation.