WED JULY 29 2026-theGBJournal| Niger State has secured a $150 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to finance a $160 million solar power project, marking one of the latest subnational efforts to expand electricity generation as Nigeria grapples with chronic power shortages that continue to constrain economic growth.
The state government will contribute the remaining $10 million as counterpart funding for the project, which will be located in Maikunkele, according to Mustapha Abubakar Bida, Chairman of the New Niger Development Project (NNDP).
Speaking at a quarterly media briefing in Minna, Bida said the financing reflected the state’s strong track record in executing infrastructure projects, citing the management of the Minna-Bida road project as a key factor in securing the IsDB facility.
The project is expected to provide cleaner electricity, create direct and indirect jobs and include social intervention programmes aimed at benefiting surrounding communities, he said, although no timeline for completion or planned generation capacity was disclosed.
The investment comes as Nigeria’s electricity sector continues to struggle with inadequate generation, an ageing transmission network and frequent grid failures that leave millions of households and businesses dependent on costly diesel and petrol generators.
Analysts say expanding utility-scale solar projects, particularly in states with abundant solar resources such as Niger, could help diversify the country’s energy mix, improve electricity access and reduce pressure on the national grid.
Bida said the NNDP, established under Executive Order 30 of 2023, was created to support the implementation of major government projects, coordinate compensation processes with relevant stakeholders and address bottlenecks that could delay infrastructure delivery.
He added that the agency’s personnel were drawn from various ministries, departments and agencies to strengthen project execution and ensure value for money.
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