$160M FEC Approval Positions Niger State as Nigeria’s Solar Frontline Under Farmer Governor Bago

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Niger State has taken a major step to lead Nigeria’s renewable transition after the Federal Executive Council approved a $160 million financing package for the Niger State Solar Energy Development Project.

The package consists of $150 million from the Islamic Development Bank and $10 million counterpart funding from the Niger State Government. At the center of the project is the development of a 100-megawatt solar plant that will expand electricity access, improve reliability, and diversify the country’s energy mix through clean power.

Farmer Governor Umaru Bago said the approval shows Niger State’s capacity to attract and manage large-scale investment. “This is more than funding. It is a vote of confidence in what we are building here. The 100MW plant will bring light to rural communities, support our industries, and create new opportunities across the state,” he said.

The project follows months of preparation between the state government and the Islamic Development Bank. A few months ago, Governor Bago received the IsDB project preparation team for the Niger Solar Electrification Project. Feasibility, environmental, and social impact studies have since been completed ahead of this final approval.

The Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy said Niger State is ready to move from planning to delivery. “We are positioning Niger as the reference point for solar development in Nigeria. The 100MW plant will be the anchor, but the impact will go wider — to farms, markets, schools, health centers, and SMEs that need reliable power to grow,” he said.

Beyond electricity, the project is designed to support agriculture, agro-processing, industrialisation, and climate mitigation. By reducing dependence on fossil fuels, the state expects to lower the cost of doing business while improving power supply to communities that have long been off-grid.

With this approval, Niger State joins the frontline of states driving Nigeria’s clean energy shift, with Farmer Governor Bago providing the political leadership.



A.B Makama Media 
Strategist To Honorable Commissioner For Power and Renewable Energy 

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