Enugu State has secured a $200 million investment to develop a 100-megawatt solar power project aimed at improving electricity supply to households, businesses and agricultural enterprises.
The proposed project, estimated at about ₦300 billion, will combine solar power generation with battery storage to provide more reliable electricity across the state.
The investment was disclosed following a meeting between Governor Peter Mbah and a delegation from Eauxwell Nigeria Ltd., led by its Managing Director, Edwin Enwegbara, at the Government House in Enugu on Thursday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The initiative is expected to support households, agricultural processors, small businesses and other enterprises facing electricity supply challenges.
Enugu Reviews Solar Tariffs, Project Timeline
Mbah said the state’s objective was not merely to attract investment but to establish an electricity market capable of providing reliable and affordable power.
He noted that the tariff assumptions and financial model presented by the investors required further review to balance investors’ cost recovery with consumers’ ability to pay.
The governor also called for a shorter implementation timeline and pledged government support to remove bureaucratic and institutional obstacles that could delay the project.
Enwegbara said the final electricity tariff would be determined in consultation with regulators, taking into account the costs of delivering power and the need to keep electricity affordable.
The project’s combination of solar generation and battery storage is intended to support more consistent electricity supply to homes, businesses and agricultural processors.
Olufemi Akinyelure, Head of the Nigeria Electrification Programme at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), joined the meeting virtually to explain the structure and implementation of the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme.
Niger State Pursues Similar 100MW Solar Project
Enugu’s proposed investment follows a similar initiative in Niger State, where the government secured a $150 million Islamic Development Bank loan in July for a 100MW solar power project.
Mustapha Abubakar, Chairman of the New Niger Development Project, said the state would contribute an additional $10 million, bringing the stated funding to $160 million.
The project is planned for Maikunkele and is expected to include social intervention programmes for surrounding communities.
In January, Niger State announced plans for the solar electrification project, valued at approximately $163 million. The proposed development covers 200 hectares and is designed to support households, businesses, agriculture and industrial activity while reducing reliance on the national grid.
DARES Targets 17.5 Million Nigerians
Nigeria is increasingly pursuing renewable energy projects to expand electricity access amid persistent grid challenges and inadequate supply.
The Rural Electrification Agency has also reported growth in domestic solar panel manufacturing capacity, with Managing Director Abba Aliyu saying production capacity had increased to 300MW from 120MW two years earlier.
The sector’s development pipeline was reported at 3.7 gigawatts, while renewable energy investments reached approximately $425 million in 2025, supporting eight manufacturing facilities.
The 2026 Mini-Grid Regulations also permit interconnected mini-grids of up to 10MW and simplify certain licensing and environmental assessment processes.
Meanwhile, the DARES programme aims to connect 17.5 million Nigerians through more than 2.5 million household connections and 1,350 mini-grids, including 250 interconnected systems.
Backed by $750 million in funding, the programme is expected to attract an additional $1.1 billion in private investment.
